The preliminary investigation into the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 has revealed a chilling mystery surrounding cockpit actions in the seconds before the fatal descent. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 260 people, crashed into a crowded Ahmedabad neighborhood just 40 seconds after takeoff in June, with investigators now focused on a key anomaly: both fuel-control switches had inexplicably been moved to the “cut-off” position moments after liftoff.
This action, which shuts off fuel supply and leads to total engine failure, is typically reserved for post-landing procedures. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) captures one pilot asking the other, “Why did you do the cut-off?” a question that deepens the enigma as neither appears to admit responsibility.
Experts highlight that the lever-lock switches are protected against accidental use. They require deliberate lifting before switching off and are further guarded to prevent unintentional activation. Investigators have yet to determine which pilot moved the switches, and why.
While the fuel switches were swiftly reset to “run,” triggering automatic engine relight, it was too late. At the moment of impact, one engine was recovering thrust while the other hadn’t fully powered up. The aircraft reached only 625 feet before data was lost.
Investigators are also examining whether a mechanical or electronic fault could have caused the switches to trip. A 2018 FAA advisory warned of improperly installed locking features in similar switches, but this was not deemed a critical safety issue at the time.
The presence of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), deployed automatically during total engine failure, and the landing gear still down, point to a sudden and catastrophic systems failure. Despite the pilots’ attempts to regain control, there was simply not enough altitude or time.
Experts now stress the need for clearer CVR voice identification and advocate for cockpit video recorders to offer visual context. Until then, the central question remains unanswered: who cut off the engines and why?
