Fuel Switches at Heart of Air India 171 Plane Crash Probe: What Went Wrong?

Air India Flight AI171's tragic crash seconds after takeoff has been attributed to a critical failure involving engine fuel control switches. These switches, located below the thrust levers in the Boeing 787 cockpit, are crucial for managing fuel flow to the engines. They require a deliberate action to move between 'RUN' and 'CUTOFF' modes, which start or stop the engines.

On June 12, as the Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad heading to London, both fuel switches unexpectedly shifted from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' within a second of each other. This sudden change caused the engines to lose power immediately. The cockpit voice recorder captured a pilot's shock as they asked, "Why did you cut off the fuel?" The other pilot responded, "I didn't."

Engine Recovery Attempts

The report indicates that after this incident, both switches were returned to 'RUN'. This action activated the aircraft's automated engine relight systems. Engine 1 showed signs of recovery; however, Engine 2 failed to maintain core speed despite repeated attempts to reintroduce fuel.

Six seconds after issuing a "MAYDAY" distress call, all data recordings stopped. The aircraft crashed 0.9 nautical miles from the runway, resulting in 260 fatalities. At the crash site, investigators found both fuel switches in the 'RUN' position, aligning with efforts by the crew to restart the engines midair.

Investigative Findings

No evidence of sabotage or environmental interference was discovered by investigators. The weather was clear with no bird activity reported at the time of the crash. Aviation experts assert that these switches cannot be accidentally triggered during flight.

"No sane pilot would ever turn those switches off in flight," commented U.S. aviation analyst John Nance in a Reuters report. John Cox added that these switches are independently wired and powered, making accidental shutdowns unlikely without mechanical issues.

Switch Model Concerns

The aircraft had GE engines and used a switch model previously highlighted in a 2018 FAA advisory for potentially faulty locking mechanisms. However, this advisory was not mandatory, and Air India did not perform related inspections.

The timeline of events is now precisely documented down to each second. Understanding how these fuel switches function and why they moved is central to resolving one of India's most severe aviation disasters.