Air India Crash Report: In the wake of the preliminary report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the tragic Air India Flight AI171 crash, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu urged people not to speculate.
“This is a preliminary report. At the ministry, we are analysing it closely,” he said. “We are coordinating with the AAIB for any support they need and are hoping the final report is released soon so that we can arrive at some conclusion.”
Echoing this sentiment, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol added, “The AAIB has brought out a preliminary report. This is not the final report. Until the final report comes out, we should not arrive at any conclusion. The AAIB is an autonomous authority, and the ministry does not interfere in their work.”
Mos Civil Aviation asked people not to speculate. “This is not the final report, request for no speculation,” adds the aviation minister.
What the AAIB report reveals
The AAIB’s initial findings on the crash of AI171 reveal that both engine fuel control switches on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner moved from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ within a second of each other, just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025. This led to a complete dual-engine shutdown, depriving the aircraft of thrust.
Despite the crew’s attempt to restart the engines, only one showed partial recovery before the aircraft crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel complex. The crash killed all 241 people onboard and 19 on the ground, making it one of the worst aviation tragedies in India in decades.
The report ruled out bird strikes, fuel contamination, or the presence of hazardous materials. It confirmed that the aircraft was properly configured for takeoff, was airworthy, and had recently-installed engines.
Cockpit voice recordings added to the mystery, capturing a pilot asking, “Why did you cut off (fuel)?” with the other responding, “I did not do so.” CCTV footage corroborated the emergency, showing deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), which activates when both engines fail.
Kinjarapu calls for patience and confidence in crew
Minister Kinjarapu underscored his faith in India’s aviation workforce: “I truly believe we have the most wonderful pilots and crew in the world. They are the backbone of the aviation industry.”
The report notes that a 2018 FAA advisory had highlighted possible issues with fuel control switches, but Air India had not acted on it as it was non-mandatory. The investigation continues, with no safety recommendations issued yet.