Fuel Cutoff in Air India Dreamliner Crash: New AAIB Report Shocks Experts

      AAIB investigators review cockpit controls after the Dreamliner crash, focusing on fuel‑control switch positions.

Fuel Cutoff in Air India Dreamliner Crash: New AAIB Report Shocks Experts

By M Muzamil Shami - July 12, 2025

Key Points

1. Preliminary AAIB report reveals fuel‑control switches moved to “cutoff” just before impact

2. One pilot asked, “Why did you cut it off?” — the other denied responsibility

3. Engines briefly regained power, but plane continued to plummet and issued a MAYDAY

4. Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London crashed June 12, killing 260 people

5. Investigation ongoing; FAA bulletin on switch locking feature noted, but no definitive conclusions yet

July 12, 2025 — A preliminary investigation from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has revealed a startling new detail from the June 12 crash of Air India’s Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner: the fuel‑control switches for both engines were reportedly flipped from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” just seconds before the aircraft plunged out of the sky.

Fuel Cutoff Sequence Uncovered

In its 15-page report, the AAIB recounts that once the Dreamliner hit its maximum recorded speed, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches were sequentially toggled from RUN to CUTOFF, with only a one‑second interval between the two events.

A dramatic exchange follows: audio from the cockpit reveals one pilot asking, “Why did you cut off?”—to which the other replies, “I did not.” The aircraft swiftly began to lose altitude, its engines silent.

Although the switches were returned to the RUN position, and engine thrust appeared to return, a panicked MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY was transmitted before the jet impacted the ground.

MAYDAY and Final Moments

Air traffic controllers immediately queried the flight crew’s distress call—yet their final reply was never heard. The flight descended rapidly, and radar contact was lost. Emergency teams scrambled to the crash site in the suburbs of Ahmedabad, where devastation awaited.

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Casualties and Miracles

The flight carried 230 passengers—169 Indian citizens, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian—along with a 12‑member crew. Nearly all aboard perished; 19 more on the ground lost their lives. In a single, astounding miracle, one British passenger survived—the only person to walk away from the wreckage alive, later discharged from hospital.

Initial reports estimated 279 fatalities, but forensic teams later reassessed the figure, confirming a tragic 260 deaths.

Investigation Underway

The AAIB underscored that its preliminary findings neither assign blame nor address root causes. Instead, it focused on the fuel cutoff event and may yet pivot focus as more evidence emerges.

The agency also flagged a 2018 FAA information bulletin that warned of possible fuel switch lock disengagements on Boeing 787‑8 GEnx engines. Although these were advisory—not mandatory directives—Air India reportedly did not perform the suggested inspections, citing the non‑binding nature of the bulletin. Authorities clarified, however, that Air India was fully compliant with mandatory airworthiness directives and service bulletins.

Manufacturer and Global Oversight

AAIB reported no immediate recommendations for Boeing or GE, and suggested operators were following standard procedures. Boeing has declined comment; GE has not yet responded.

International investigators, including teams from the FAA and the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB‑UK), are collaborating with Indian authorities. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a preliminary report must be issued within 30 days of any disaster—a timeline the AAIB has adhered to.

What Comes Next?

The AAIB will continue to gather cockpit voice recorders, flight data, maintenance logs, and crew duty schedules. Experts expect the full investigation to span months, possibly longer, before yielding determinations or safety updates.

FAQs

Q1: Did the fuel cut off cause the Air India crash?
A: The AAIB’s preliminary report confirms fuel switches were turned off just before the crash, but investigators haven’t yet determined if this was intentional, accidental, or due to mechanical issues.

Q2: Was there any prior warning about fuel‑switch issues on Boeing 787‑8s?
A: Yes, a 2018 FAA bulletin flagged potential disengagement of the fuel‑switch lock—but it was advisory, and no mandatory inspection followed.

Q3: Is a single survivor confirmed?
A: Yes—a British passenger walked away from the wreckage and has since been released from the hospital.

Q4: What are the next steps in the investigation?
A: Investigators will analyze flight data recorders, cockpit audio, maintenance records, and crew logs. Collaboration with global aviation authorities is ongoing.

What do you think caused the fuel switch toggles? Accident, mechanical failure, or something more alarming? Share your thoughts below, and subscribe for updates as the AAIB investigation unfolds.