Air India Crash Probe Focuses on Fuel Switches; Preliminary Report Expected Amid Global Scrutiny

KalimNews | July 11, 2025 | Kolkata :  In the aftermath of the devastating Air India Dreamliner crash on June 12, 2025, which claimed 260 lives, the Indian government and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have remained largely silent regarding their findings. However, multiple international reports suggest that investigators are focusing on the aircraft’s engine fuel control switches as a key factor in the catastrophic accident that is now considered India’s worst aviation disaster in over four decades and the deadliest involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft’s introduction in 2011.

The ill-fated Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed moments after takeoff into a medical hostel complex near the airport, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and an additional 19 on the ground. This incident has not only shocked India but also triggered a high-level multinational investigation closely watched by aviation authorities across the globe.

According to two independent U.S.-based media reports, early data retrieved from the aircraft’s black boxes — which are currently being analysed at the AAIB laboratory in Delhi with technical support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) — shows that the investigation has narrowed its focus to the engine fuel control switches. These switches, which are essential for regulating fuel flow to the engines, appear to have been turned off shortly before the crash, resulting in a sudden and complete loss of thrust.

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources close to the investigation, reported that the switches in question are typically left on throughout the flight. They are used by pilots only during engine startup, shutdown, or in certain emergencies. Why or how they were turned off during a critical phase of takeoff remains unclear. It is also uncertain whether the pilots attempted to reactivate the switches before the aircraft plummeted.

This shutdown of both engines is believed to have led to the deployment of the aircraft’s emergency power generator — the ram air turbine (RAT) — which activates only when all engine power is lost. This indicates a complete systems failure mere seconds before the aircraft impacted the hostel building.

Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with more than 10,000 flying hours on wide-body aircraft, was commanding the flight, assisted by co-pilot Clive Kunder, who had over 3,400 hours of experience. Air India confirmed their credentials, while family members of both pilots declined to comment. Indian civil aviation official Murlidhar Mohol described the incident to NDTV as “a very rare occurrence,” noting that such a simultaneous failure of both engines had “never happened before.”

Despite the alarming nature of the crash, initial assessments from U.S. investigators have not pointed to any mechanical fault with the aircraft or its GE Aerospace engines. Boeing, the aircraft’s manufacturer, delivered the Dreamliner to Air India in January 2014. As of now, neither Boeing nor the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued safety bulletins or directives related to the incident. However, technical experts from Boeing, GE Aerospace, and the FAA continue to support the Indian-led investigation.

The Air Current, an aviation industry publication, earlier broke the news that investigators are studying whether the fuel switches were moved intentionally, inadvertently, or due to a malfunction. Aviation expert John Cox noted that these switches are designed to prevent accidental movement. "You can’t bump them and they move," he said, adding that shutting off the switch would immediately cut off engine power.

As the AAIB prepares to release its preliminary report — expected as early as Friday — there is growing scrutiny over the pace and transparency of the investigation. It took nearly two weeks to download the flight recorder data, and the Indian government has held only one press conference since the crash, during which no questions were allowed.

A source with direct knowledge of the matter revealed that while the upcoming report will address the movement of the fuel control switches, it may not provide conclusive details. Investigations of this magnitude often take a year or more and are complex due to their multi-national nature. Disagreements over data sharing and investigative procedures have reportedly slowed progress, although India has since reversed an earlier decision to block a United Nations aviation expert from participating. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has now been granted observer status, although the agency declined to publicly discuss its involvement.

The crash is a significant setback for the Tata Group, which has been working to restore Air India's reputation and modernize its fleet after reacquiring the airline from government ownership in 2022. India, aiming to position itself as a global aviation hub similar to Dubai, sees the airline industry as vital to its broader economic development strategy.

A parliamentary panel is scheduled to meet next week to review civil aviation safety in India. Lawmakers have summoned officials from both the government and the aviation industry to discuss the recent crash and broader safety issues.

As the world awaits the findings of the preliminary report, many questions remain unanswered about what went wrong in the final minutes of flight AI 171. With more than 1,100 Boeing 787s in operation globally, the outcome of this investigation will have far-reaching implications for aviation safety and airline operations worldwide.