A preliminary report released on July 12, 2025, by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) details the tragic Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which claimed 260 lives — including 241 of the 242 passengers and crew on board, and 19 people on the ground. The findings point to a critical issue involving the aircraft’s engine fuel cutoff switches, which flipped from “run” to “cutoff” almost simultaneously three seconds after takeoff, starving the engines of fuel and causing a rapid loss of thrust.
Cockpit voice recordings captured confusion between the pilots, with one asking why the fuel had been cut off and the other denying doing so. The plane, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, reached an altitude of 650 feet before descending and crashing into a medical college hostel, erupting in a fireball. CCTV footage showed the deployment of the ram air turbine, a backup power source, indicating an immediate loss of engine power. At the crash site, both fuel switches were found in the “run” position, with evidence suggesting the engines attempted to relight before the low-altitude impact.
The report does not attribute immediate responsibility to Boeing or engine manufacturer GE Aerospace, noting that the aircraft complied with all airworthiness directives. The investigation, supported by India’s civil aviation ministry and international experts, continues to examine whether the switch movement was due to human error or other factors, with a final report expected within a year. Posts on X have sparked debate, with some users speculating about sabotage, though no evidence currently supports this claim. The crash — the deadliest aviation disaster in a decade — has raised questions about Air India’s safety protocols under Tata Group’s management, especially following recent regulatory warnings about maintenance lapses.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 12th, 2025
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
