Did a fuel cutoff cause the AI171 crash — and what have Air India and Boeing said so far?
New Delhi / Seattle: Air India and Boeing have issued their first public responses after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary findings into the Air India AI171 plane crash, which killed 260 people on June 12, 2025, including 241 of the 242 people on board.
Air India, in a statement posted on X in the early hours of Saturday, acknowledged receipt of the AAIB’s initial 15-page report and reiterated its commitment to the investigation and to supporting victims’ families. “Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident,” the airline said. “We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.”
The airline confirmed that it is “fully cooperating” with the AAIB and other authorities and is working closely with all relevant stakeholders and regulators. However, Air India declined to comment further, citing the active and ongoing nature of the investigation.
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AAIB preliminary report: What went wrong?
The AAIB’s early findings offer a chilling account of the moments following takeoff. Within 90 seconds of liftoff, both engines of the Boeing aircraft shut down after the fuel cutoff switches were inadvertently toggled from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” — one after the other, just a second apart.
The cockpit voice recorder captured a tense exchange between the two pilots. One asks, “Why did you cut off?” only to hear, “I did not.” The uncommanded fuel cutoff immediately triggered the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), and the aircraft began to lose altitude rapidly. Though the pilots tried to restart the engines, only Engine 1 showed partial recovery. Engine 2 failed to stabilise.
At 08:09 UTC, the crew issued a distress call — “MAYDAY” — moments before the aircraft crashed into a residential neighbourhood near the Ahmedabad airport perimeter.
Boeing’s official response
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing also responded shortly after the report’s release. “Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected on the ground in Ahmedabad,” Boeing said in a statement.
The company confirmed that it is supporting the investigation and its customer, Air India, and would “defer to the AAIB” regarding further details, in accordance with international protocols under ICAO Annex 13.
Since the tragic crash of flight AI171 on June 12, both Air India and Boeing have released limited but carefully worded statements. Air India initially expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and stated it was extending all possible support to the victims' families. The airline confirmed that it had activated emergency response protocols and was coordinating with local authorities in Ahmedabad.
In its most recent statement, issued on July 12 following the AAIB’s preliminary report, Air India reiterated its commitment to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation and affirmed it was working closely with regulators and stakeholders. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, has also extended condolences to those affected and has stated that it is supporting the investigation while deferring all technical disclosures to the AAIB, in line with international aviation protocols under ICAO Annex 13.
Also read: New analysis: Landing gear, engine failure led to Air India flight 171 crash?
What’s next?
The AAIB’s final report is expected in the coming months and will determine the root cause and recommend safety measures. The crash of AI171 remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent Indian history.
Authorities had recovered the black box and are continuing to analyse flight data and cockpit audio. Investigators are focusing on whether the inadvertent fuel cutoff was due to human error, system malfunction, or a procedural oversight.
More updates will follow as the probe progresses.