Air India Crash Report Raises Questions About Whether Pilot Cut Off Fuel To Engines
Air India and two Indian pilot associations are warning not to jump to conclusions after investigators said Friday that the fuel to both engines of Air India Flight 171 was cut off just seconds after takeoff, leading to the June 12 crash that killed all but one of the 242 on board and 19 people on the ground.
The preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau appeared to rule out mechanical failure or a design flaw in the plane, and is now focused on sabotage or pilot error.
INSIDE THE FLIGHT
The London-bound plane crashed about 30 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, striking a medical college.
According to cockpit voice recordings, one pilot asked the other why he cut the fuel off several seconds into the flight. The other pilot denied he shut off the fuel to the engines.
Several seconds later, the fuel was turned back on, but it was too late for the plane to recover.
The report notes that the aircraft’s fuel shutoff switches are designed to prevent accidental activation and require multiple deliberate steps to operate. Both switches were moved to the “CUTOFF” position one second apart — and then switched back to “RUN” 10 and 14 seconds later, too late to regain power and stop the descent.
Experts say it is unlikely this sequence could have occurred without human intervention, whether intentional or accidental.
The report recommended no action for the aircraft or engine manufacturers, Boeing and General Electric.
PUSHBACK
Air India’s chief executive Campbell Wilson told staff in a memo that the investigation was “far from over" and cautioned against drawing conclusions.
Two Indian pilot associations condemned speculation of intentional pilot action, calling it “reckless” and “deeply insensitive” without verified evidence.
One group also expressed concern over the “secrecy surrounding these investigations.”
U.S. officials have also reportedly expressed frustration over the slow release of data from the crash, including analyzing the plane's black box.
