“Why Did You Cut Off?”: Pilot’s Last Words Before Air India Jet Crashed, Killing 260

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary findings into the deadly crash of Air India flight AI171, which claimed 260 lives on June 12. The Boeing 787-8 aircraft went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, in what is now being called one of the worst aviation disasters in India’s recent history.

The scheduled international flight was en route to London Gatwick when tragedy struck barely a minute and a half into the journey. The aircraft had just lifted off and was climbing normally when, in a matter of seconds, both engines unexpectedly lost power. According to data retrieved from the aircraft's flight recorders, the fuel control switches for both engines were manually moved from the "RUN" position to "CUTOFF" — effectively shutting down both engines during the initial climb phase.

A voice captured from the cockpit voice recorder revealed one pilot asking, “Why did you cut off?” with the other replying in apparent confusion, “I did not.” Investigators describe this as a critical moment in the timeline.

With both engines out, the aircraft rapidly lost altitude. The automatic deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) — an emergency power system that activates when an aircraft loses main engine power — was triggered. The pilots made immediate efforts to relight the engines by switching the fuel controls back to "RUN". Engine 1 showed some response, briefly regaining partial thrust. Engine 2, however, failed to stabilize or produce sufficient power.

Despite these efforts, the Boeing 787 could not regain its climb. The aircraft, which had reached a speed of around 180 knots, continued to descend rapidly. The pilots issued a final “Mayday” distress call at 08:09 UTC. Seconds later, the plane crashed into crashed into several buildings near the airport, including the BJ Medical College hostel.

Eyewitnesses reported a fiery explosion followed by thick smoke as emergency responders rushed to the scene. The wreckage spread across a wide area, with aircraft parts embedded in structures and scattered over 1,000 feet. Fire and structural damage were reported in five buildings.

The aircraft, registered VT-ANB, was delivered to Air India in 2013 and had undergone routine maintenance checks shortly before the crash. The AAIB confirmed that the aircraft was fully airworthy, all mandatory service directives had been followed, and the jet fuel was clean and within specifications. There were no technical issues with the engines or the aircraft’s control systems prior to takeoff.

The pilot-in-command was a highly experienced 56-year-old captain with over 15,000 flight hours. The co-pilot, aged 32, had logged more than 3,400 hours. Both were current in their certifications, had no known medical or performance issues, and had been operating within legal duty hours.

The investigation has also drawn attention to a 2018 Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) issued by the FAA. The bulletin warned of a potential issue with the locking mechanism of the fuel control switches on Boeing 787 aircraft, which could result in unintended movement. However, this advisory was not mandatory, and Air India did not carry out the recommended inspections. Notably, there had been no reported incidents involving this particular switch on VT-ANB prior to the crash.

While the AAIB has stopped short of directly linking the crash to this advisory, it is examining whether a design vulnerability could have contributed to the incident — particularly given that the switches were reportedly moved without pilot command or awareness.

At this stage, the AAIB has not issued any emergency directives or safety recommendations, stating that further analysis is needed. The focus of the ongoing investigation includes examining human factors, cockpit ergonomics, mechanical components, and aircraft design safety features. A comprehensive final report is expected in the coming months, which may include global safety recommendations for other operators of the Boeing 787 and GE GEnx-1B engine.

Meanwhile, Air India acknowledged receipt of the 15-page preliminary report and said it continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities.

"We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses," Air India stated in X.

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.
 
We acknowledge receipt of the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident…

— Air India (@airindia) July 11, 2025

Also Read: Air India Crash: Black Box Undamaged; Investigators Retrieved ‘Good Data’