A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has revealed that both engines of Air India Flight AI-171 shut down moments after takeoff due to a sudden cutoff in fuel supply. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed just 29 seconds after takeoff, killing 241 of 242 people onboard.

According to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), one pilot questioned the other about switching off the fuel, to which the second pilot responded, “I did not do so.” Investigators confirmed that both fuel control switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF within a second of each other - a move that requires manual force, not accidental contact. While one engine briefly restarted, the aircraft had already lost critical altitude. No mechanical faults were found, and Boeing’s switch-locking design is under scrutiny.

The AAIB has not issued immediate safety directives but is continuing investigations into possible mechanical malfunctions, design issues, or human error. A final report is expected within a year.