‘Why did you cut off?’: Air India flight had fuel supply ‘shut off’ to both engines

An aviation expert has been left stunned by a bombshell detail into the Air India crash that killed 260 people.

Fuel control switches to the engines of the fatal Air India flight were moved from the “run” to the “cutoff” position moments before impact, in a move that experts say would have had to be “intentional”.

A 15-page preliminary report into the crash, which killed 260 people, was released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday morning AEST, revealing that one of the pilots switched both engine fuel supply from “run” to “cutoff” shortly after take off.

The report details how cockpit audio from Air India Flight 171 captured one pilot asking, “Why did you cut-off?” with the other responding, “I didn’t” before the plane went down.

A photo of one of the plane’s wings included in the report. Picture: AAIB

A CCTV image of the plane taking off. Picture: AAIB

Aviation consultant Neil Hansford said the move could not have been an accident and urged investigators to take a look at what was happening in the “personal lives” of the pilots at the time.

The “cut off” switches are usually only used in the scenario of a engine malfunction or fire to one of the engines.

“I have operated nine airlines and I’ve never ever heard of the fuel being turned off, let alone twice,” Mr Hansford told news.com.au.

The report detailed that the pilot-in-command was a 56-year-old man with more than 15,000 total flying hours, with the co-pilot a 32-year-old man with more than 3400 flying hours.

“With that level of experience, you just wouldn’t do it,” Mr Hansford said.

“They don’t lack experience. They don’t lack training. It wasn’t a medical episode. So you’ve got to start to look at intent.”

The AAIB report stated that both engines were retrieved from the wreckage and have been taken for further investigation.

Photo of the landing gear. Picture: AAIB

A photo of the plane’s tail was included in the report. Picture: AAIB

The report detailed how after realising the switches were in “cut off” one of the pilots put the engines back into “run” mode, however failed to reignite in time.

The report states one of the pilots called out “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” before the plane crashed.

The flight lasted just 32 seconds.

A picture from inside the cockpit shows the position of the fuel switches, sparking a debate online.

The picture shows the position of the fuel cut off switch.

Debris of Air India flight 171 is pictured after it crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)

The report detailed how both pilots also had “adequate rest” before the flight.

“Both pilots were based at Mumbai and had arrived at Ahmedabad on the previous day,” the report said.

The report also showed CCTV images obtained from the airport which showed no problems with the plane’s “inital climb”.

“No significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path,” the report stated.

“The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall.”

Five buildings were also destroyed on the ground as a result of the crash.

“The aircraft was destroyed due to impact with the buildings on the ground and subsequent fire,” the report said.
In a statement, Air India said they “acknowledged receipt” of the report.

“Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident. We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time,” the statement said.

“We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025.

“Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses.”

Investigation ongoing

Earlier this week, specialist website The Air Current, citing multiple sources familiar with the probe, reported it had “narrowed its focus to the movement of the engine fuel switches”, while noting that full analysis will “take months - if not longer”.

It added that “the focus of the investigators could change during that time”.

The Indian agency’s report said that the US Federal Aviation Administration had issued an information bulletin in 2018 about “the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature”.

Though the concern was not considered an “unsafe condition” that would warrant a more serious directive, Air India told investigators it did not carry out suggested inspections as they were “advisory and not mandatory”.

At least 265 people on board and on the ground were killed. (Photo by Vijay Patani / AFP)

Air India was compliant with all airworthiness directives and alert service bulletins on the aircraft, the report said.

The investigations bureau said there were “no recommended actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers”,.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The bureau said the investigation was ongoing, and that additional evidence and information has been “sought from the stakeholders”.

The UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) stipulates that states heading investigation must submit a preliminary report within 30 days of an accident.

US and British air accident investigators have taken part in the probe.

The plane was carrying 230 passengers, including 169 Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, along with 12 crew members.

Dozens of people on the ground were injured.

One passenger miraculously survived, a British citizen who was seen walking out of the wreckage of the crash, and who has since been discharged from hospital.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) meeting with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, sole survivor of the Air India flight 171 crash.

Originally published as ‘Why did you cut off?’: Air India flight had fuel supply ‘shut off’ to both engines