Mysterious crash: Why was the fuel switch turned off?

Mysterious crash: Why was the fuel switch turned off?

A month ago, a tragic air disaster occurred in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, in which an Air India passenger plane crashed, claiming 260 lives. According to a preliminary report released by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Board, an interrupted fuel supply could be responsible for the accident. This was reported by PZ-News, which indicates that the engines' fuel regulators switched to "switched off" immediately after takeoff.

Air traffic control had given flight AI171, which was on its way to London with 242 passengers, permission to take off. Just a few minutes after takeoff, there was a sudden loss of thrust, causing the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to quickly lose altitude. In the cockpit recordings, one pilot can be heard asking the other why the fuel switch was flipped, but the answer remained unclear. This confusion in the cockpit could have been decisive in the course of the accident, as [NZZ](https://www.nzz.ch/panorama/gestoppte-treibstofffutter-als-tipp-fuer-den-abrutsch-von-air-india- Flugzeug-ld.1893383) adds.

The fatal catastrophe

The plane crashed into a residential area on June 12, 2025, devastating several buildings. The accident killed 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground, while only one passenger survived. The impact on the buildings and the subsequent fire resulted in significant damage and destruction of the aircraft. The plane reportedly struck several trees and a chimney before impact. The ongoing investigation involves experts from Boeing, the US Federal Aviation Administration and engine maker GE to review additional evidence and records.

The question of why remains unanswered. Why did the pilots turn off the fuel controls? Aviation safety expert John Cox emphasizes that a pilot cannot accidentally move the fuel switches; the shutdown was deliberate. This suggests that something extremely unexpected must have happened during the crucial phase of the launch. Despite the ongoing investigations, there are currently no recommendations for action for the operators of Boeing 787-8 or GE GEnx-1B engines, as can be seen from the current status of the investigations.

The great death

The frequency of plane crashes has decreased in recent years, making commercial aviation significantly safer compared to other modes of transportation, such as driving. In 2024, for example, there were 268 deaths worldwide from plane crashes, while before the turn of the millennium there were over 1,000 victims annually. The last major disaster of comparable magnitude occurred on Germanwings Flight 4U9525 in 2015 with 150 deaths, making the tragedy of the Air India crash all the more painful.

While Air India has confirmed receipt of the preliminary report, it has not commented on the specific details of the incident. The investigation is ongoing and as the world grapples with the origins of this terrible disaster, the question remains as to how such a serious failure could have occurred in one of the most modern passenger aircraft. The aviation community's attention will continue to be focused on the results of this comprehensive investigation.