Ahmedabad Catastrophe: 5 Shocking Facts Behind the Dreamliner Disaster That Exposed a Deadly Cockpit Failure

The final moments of Air India Flight AI171 were not defined by a sudden explosion or catastrophic structural failure, but by a chilling sequence of human and mechanical interactions within the cockpit that unfolded with horrifying speed. The preliminary investigation report paints a picture of profound confusion during the most critical phase of flight – takeoff – leading to an irreversible loss of thrust and a tragic plunge into an Ahmedabad neighborhood. 

The Unfolding Nightmare: 

• Liftoff to Loss: On June 12th, 2025, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London, lifted off from Ahmedabad under clear skies. Within seconds, the unthinkable happened. 

• The Fatal Flips: Two fuel control switches on the center console – critical for supplying fuel to the massive GE GEnx engines – were deliberately moved to the “cut-off” position, one second apart. This action starved both engines of fuel. 

• The Crippling Delay: Recognizing the emergency, the pilots scrambled. It took approximately 10 seconds to restore the first switch to “run,” and 14 seconds for the second. In aviation terms, especially mere hundreds of feet above ground during takeoff, this delay was an eternity. 

• The Exchange of Denial: The cockpit voice recorder captured a brief, chilling exchange: 

• One pilot: “Why did he cutoff?” 

• The other pilot: “He did not do so.” This is the only substantive conversation captured about the event before the final mayday call. The report does not identify who spoke or who physically moved the switches. First Officer Clive Kunder (Pilot Flying, ~1,100 hours on type) was at the controls, while Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (Pilot Monitoring, ~8,500 total hours) was overseeing. 

• Too Little, Too Late: While both engines did attempt to restart as fuel flow resumed, only one showed signs of regaining significant power. The aircraft, devoid of thrust during its most vulnerable climb phase, was already doomed. The Ram Air Turbine deployed automatically, signaling a complete loss of primary power, but it was insufficient. The plane crashed just beyond the airport boundary 32 seconds after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard and 19 people on the ground. 

The Enduring Mystery & Critical Questions: 

The report lays bare the sequence but leaves agonizing questions unanswered, forming the core of the ongoing investigation: 

• The “Why” and the “Who”: Why were both fuel switches moved to cut-off seconds after takeoff? This is an action reserved only for ground operations or extreme in-flight emergencies like an engine fire (which wasn’t present). Who physically moved them? Was it a deliberate, mistaken action by one pilot? A misinterpretation of a situation? An accidental bump? The cockpit exchange suggests immediate confusion and denial between the pilots about who was responsible. 

• The Silence of the CVR: Why is there only one brief exchange captured about this critical event? What happened in the cockpit during those crucial 10-14 seconds of attempting restoration? Were there alarms? Physical struggles? Further communication not picked up clearly? The lack of audio evidence is a significant hurdle. 

• Switch Security: The report notes a 2018 FAA airworthiness bulletin highlighting that some Boeing fuel switches (including on 787s) could be installed without their locking mechanism properly engaged. While the specific module on this aircraft was replaced in 2023 with no defects reported, investigators must determine if the switches functioned as designed – requiring a deliberate, specific action to move – or if a fault made them vulnerable to accidental activation. 

• Protocol & Training: Could cockpit resource management (CRM) or specific procedures for handling such switches during critical phases be a factor? Did fatigue, stress, or a miscommunication contribute? While both pilots were reportedly rested, understanding their interaction dynamics is crucial. 

The Human and Technical Tightrope: 

This tragedy underscores the razor-thin margin for error during takeoff. Cutting fuel flow at that precise moment left the pilots with virtually no altitude, time, or kinetic energy to recover. The 787’s advanced systems, including the auto-deploying Ram Air Turbine, were powerless against the physics of low-altitude, dual-engine failure. 

The Path Forward: 

Investigators face a complex task: 

• Forensic Analysis: Scrutinizing the wreckage of the throttle quadrant and switches for any signs of malfunction, damage, or improper assembly. 

• Human Factors: Deep dives into the pilots’ training records, health, rest patterns, and potential stressors. Simulator recreations of the scenario. 

• Procedural Review: Examining Air India’s specific cockpit procedures regarding fuel switches and emergency responses. 

• Historical Context: Revisiting the 2018 FAA bulletin and its implications for the global 787 fleet, even if no immediate action is recommended now. 

The Ahmedabad crash is a stark reminder that even in the age of automated flight, human decisions and interactions within the cockpit – compounded by split-second timing and potentially subtle technical vulnerabilities – remain pivotal to safety. Unraveling the mystery of those flipped switches and the silent seconds that followed is not just about assigning blame; it’s about understanding a critical failure point to prevent history from repeating itself. The world awaits the final report, hoping for answers that can bring some measure of clarity and drive essential safety improvements.