The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its initial findings into the devastating crash of Air India flight AI171, which claimed 270 lives and left only one survivor in what is being described as one of India’s worst aviation tragedies in decades.

The accident, involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, occurred moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. According to the preliminary report, a catastrophic dual engine failure occurred almost instantly after departure—triggered by a critical alteration to the aircraft's fuel system.

Investigators have uncovered that the aircraft’s fuel control switches, responsible for engine power, were both turned from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ within a second of each other. This simultaneous shutdown led to both engines going silent just seconds into flight.

Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) data captured a chilling moment of confusion between the pilots. One questioned, "Why did you cut off?" and the other denied any action. This suggests either a possible miscommunication or malfunction in the fuel switch mechanism.

As the engines failed, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)—an emergency backup power generator—was automatically deployed, supplying minimal hydraulic and electrical support. Surveillance footage from airport cameras confirmed the deployment mid-air.

The flight crew made urgent attempts to restart the engines. While Engine 1 showed brief signs of recovery, Engine 2 did not respond. The aircraft remained airborne for merely 32 seconds before crashing into a nearby student hostel, just under a nautical mile from the runway’s end.

Interestingly, flight data showed that while the thrust levers were positioned at idle at the time of impact, engine indicators still showed takeoff thrust commands, pointing to a potential mismatch or failure in the engine control software.

Environmental factors have been ruled out. The weather was clear, visibility was good, and there was no evidence of bird strikes or foreign object ingestion. Fuel samples also tested clean, eliminating concerns of contamination or refueling error.

Aircraft systems were set correctly for takeoff: flaps at 5 degrees, landing gear down. Both pilots were medically cleared, well-rested, and experienced in flying the Dreamliner.

The report stops short of assigning blame but notes a prior FAA advisory highlighting a potential vulnerability in the aircraft’s fuel control switches—an inspection Air India reportedly did not conduct.