Recall Daily Tech Nigeria on Thursday, June 12, 2025, reported that an Air India passenger plane, Flight AI171, crashed minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
A preliminary investigation into the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, India, has found that both fuel control switches were in the “cut-off” position just after take-off. This move, which normally turns off the engines, led to a total loss of power and caused the plane to go down in a crowded neighbourhood, causing the deadly crash that killed 260 people last month.
Cockpit voice recordings reveal confusion between the two pilots. One pilot asked, “Why did you do the cut-off?” The other replied, “I didn’t.” It’s still unclear who moved the switches, and why. The switches are designed to be hard to move by accident, requiring a two-step process to unlock and flip them. Investigators say it’s “almost impossible” to flip both at once by mistake.
The crash happened on June 12, 2025. The 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner was heading to London with 242 people on board. Only one person survived. The plane crashed into several buildings, destroying homes and leaving a trail of wreckage nearly 400 metres long. Many people on the ground were also affected.
The pilots, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a veteran with over 15,000 flying hours, and First Officer Clive Kunder, both died in the crash. The crew had passed all safety checks before take-off.
Air India, now owned by Tata, had been making improvements and was hoping for a turnaround. The crash has cast a shadow over those plans and raised questions about safety and training.
Ayushi Christian, whose husband died in the crash, said, “It has been one month since the crash, but no action has been taken by the government so far. The preliminary investigation report has come out today. Action should be taken against those responsible for the incident.”
Dr Mario Donadi, a friend of another victim, said, “How can something so trivial as a simple switch being deactivated lead to such a loss of life, of such huge dreams?”
Boeing, the aircraft maker, said its “thoughts remain with the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected on the ground.” The company added that it is cooperating fully with investigators.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau says more tests are coming, including checking fuel samples and analysing data from flight recorders. A final report is expected within a year. For now, families are still waiting for answers, and the world is watching to see what changes will be made to prevent another tragedy like this.
