A month after India’s worst aviation disaster in decades, investigators have concluded that both engines of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner shut down within 32 seconds of take-off, with cockpit voice data capturing a moment of confusion and a failed attempt at recovery by the pilots.
According to a 15-page preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the aircraft’s fuel control switches for both engines shifted from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' in rapid succession just moments after departure from Ahmedabad airport on 12 June.
The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) revealed a chilling exchange. One pilot is heard asking, “Why did you cut off?” The other replied, “I didn’t do so.” The transition to 'CUTOFF' effectively shut down fuel supply to the engines, triggering a catastrophic loss of thrust.
Data from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) shows that the switches were soon returned from 'CUTOFF' to 'RUN' in what appears to have been a desperate bid to restart the engines. According to the AAIB, “When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is in flight, each engine's full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction.”
However, the relight attempt was too late. The EAFR recording terminated seconds later, just before a MAYDAY transmission was heard. The Air Traffic Control asked for the aircraft’s call sign, but received no further communication. CCTV footage later confirmed the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed immediately after lift-off, a system activated in the event of total hydraulic or engine failure.
The aircraft was airborne for only 32 seconds. It plunged into a hostel block of BJ Medical College, bursting into flames on impact. Only one of the 242 individuals on board survived. The death toll rose to nearly 270, including casualties on the ground.
Also read: AI crash report says both engines cut off shortly after take-off
The Dreamliner was being flown by Line Training Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 8,200 hours of flying experience, and First Officer Clive Kundar, who had clocked 1,100 hours. The AAIB confirmed both were medically fit, adequately rested, and trained.
While the report ruled out sabotage, it noted a prior advisory by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about a potential flaw in the fuel control switch mechanism. The FAA had observed that in some 737 models, the switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. Though not officially deemed unsafe, the AAIB described it as a factor under review.
“No significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path. The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall,” the report said.
Investigators confirmed there was no bird strike, and airport radar logs suggest the aircraft never gained stable altitude. The RAT deployment, captured on airport CCTV, further confirmed engine failure at an extremely low altitude.
In a historical reference, the report also noted a 1980s incident involving a Delta Air Lines Boeing 767, where a pilot accidentally shut down engines mid-flight. The aircraft avoided disaster only because it was high enough for a successful restart, a luxury the Air India pilots never had.
Follow us
