Cause Revealed of Air India Plane Crash: Fuel Was Turned Off and 1 Pilot Blamed the Other, Preliminary Report Shows

NEED TO KNOW

• Authorities released information following an investigation into what caused the Air India Boeing 787-8 crash on June 12

• India's Air Accident Investigation Bureau said in its preliminary report that the accident was due to fuel to the aircraft’s engines being cut off

• The passenger plane was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members from Ahmedabad in western India to London's Gatwick Airport

Authorities in India released the preliminary results of their investigation into the cause of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in June that killed 229 of the 230 passengers aboard and all 12 crew members.

A preliminary report published by India's Air Accident Investigation Bureau early Saturday, July 12, says that the June 12 accident was caused by fuel to the aircraft’s engines being cut off. The plane was on its way from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport when it crashed.

At 8:08 a.m., “the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec. The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off," the report reads.

Black box audio from the cockpit recorded “one of the pilots … asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.”

“At about 08:09:05 UTC, one of the pilots transmitted 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY,' " per the report.

Crash Fire Tender responded to the wreckage at 8:14 a.m. local time.

“Investigation is continuing and the investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from the stakeholders,” the report concluded.

“Air India stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident," the airline said in a statement on July 12. "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 Investigation Bureau (AAIB) today, 12 July 2025."

“Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses. Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB,” the statement added.

The passenger jet carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members crashed moments after takeoff on Thursday, June 12. The plane hit a college hostel in a residential area when it crash-landed in Ahmedabad, bursting into flames, the Associated Press reports.

The sole survivor of the crash was identified by doctors as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, according to AP.

“He was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body,” Dr. Dhaval Gameti told AP about the survivor. “But he seems to be out of danger.”

“I don’t know how I survived. I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me… I walked out of the rubble,” Ramesh told DD News from his hospital bed at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, per the Hindustan Times.

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“Even I can't believe how I came out of it alive. For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too. But when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realized I was alive. I still can't believe how I survived,” he continued.

Ramesh recalled the moments before the crash: “When the flight took off, within 5 to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air. Suddenly, the lights started flickering – green and white – then the plane rammed into some establishment that was there,” according to the outlet.

Air India posted on X that flight AI171 was involved in a crash and that they had set up a hotline to provide information.

The Dreamliner departed from Ahmedabad in western India at 1:38 p.m. local time and was headed for London's Gatwick Airport when it crashed five minutes into the flight, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, the director general of the Directorate of Civil Aviation, told the AP.

The plane was operated by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, News18 and The Hindustan Times reported.

The Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri. Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, wrote on X that he was monitoring the situation while working with emergency response agencies.

“Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site.” Naidu wrote. “My thoughts and prayers are with all those on board and their families.”

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