A preliminary report into the Air India passenger airplane crash that killed not less than 270 folks final month has discovered that each engines have been flipped to chop off after takeoff.
The 15-page report launched Friday by India’s Plane Accident Investigation Bureau discovered that the cutoff switches for each engines have been switched, one after one other, inside one second. The swap led to each engines dropping thrust. Investigators have been in a position to get knowledge out of the black packing containers.
“Within the cockpit voice recording, one of many pilots is heard asking the opposite why did he cutoff. The opposite pilot responded that he didn’t accomplish that,” the report reads.
The swap was flipped three seconds into the flight, and the flight itself solely lasted 32 seconds earlier than crashing. The report would not state how the swap was flipped. There had not been any defects reported regarding the gasoline management swap since 2023, in response to the preliminary report.
One of many engines started to regain thrust; nonetheless, the second engine didn’t. This led to one of many pilots transmitting a “MAYDAY” name, in response to the report.
The left engine on the airplane was put in on March 26, and the best engine was put in on Could 1, in response to the report.
“At this stage of investigation, there aren’t any beneficial actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and producers, suggesting that no vital fault has been discovered with the airplane or its engines,” the report states, referring to the makers of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane and its GE engines.
In response to the report, Air India mentioned in a social media submit on Friday that it “stands in solidarity with the households and people affected by the AI171 accident.”
“We proceed to mourn the loss and are absolutely dedicated to offering help throughout this troublesome time,” the airline mentioned. “We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report launched by the Plane Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) right this moment, 12 July 2025. Air India is working carefully with stakeholders, together with regulators. We proceed to completely cooperate with the AAIB and different authorities as their investigation progresses.
The Air Present, a information website that covers the aviation trade, reported earlier this week that the investigation into the crash was zeroing in on the engines and gasoline management switches.
Air India flight AI171 was carrying 242 passengers and crew when it crashed within the western Indian metropolis of Ahmedabad on June 12, shortly after taking off for London’s Gatwick airport. Officers confirmed that one passenger on the flight was the lone survivor. No less than 29 folks on the bottom have been killed.
Air India mentioned these on board included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian.
contributed to this report.
