Air India Flight AI171 Crash: AAIB Preliminary Report Reveals Both Engines Shut Down Mid-Air After Takeoff
New Delhi, July 12 – The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report on the crash of Air India Flight AI171, which went down shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad on June 12. The report has revealed that both engines of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft (registration VT-ANB) shut down within seconds of each other shortly after the flight began, leading to the catastrophic incident.
The ill-fated flight was scheduled to operate from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. According to AAIB, the aircraft had previously arrived in Ahmedabad as AI423 from Delhi, during which the crew reported certain status messages in the technical log. Air India's duty engineers resolved the flagged issues based on the Fault Isolation Manual, and the aircraft was cleared for flight at 6:40 AM UTC.
The crew comprised an ATPL holder captain, a CPL holder first officer, and 10 cabin crew members. Both pilots were well-rested, having arrived from Mumbai the previous day, and were deemed fit for duty following a breathalyzer test.
The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers – 15 in business class and 215 in economy. No dangerous goods were reported on board, and the aircraft's weight and balance were within limits.
As per agency report, at 8:08:42 AM UTC, the aircraft reached an airspeed of 180 knots. Seconds later, both Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches were activated one after another, causing the engines to shut down. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other why he had shut off the fuel supply, to which the response was a denial, indicating neither had knowingly done so.
CCTV footage confirmed that the aircraft lifted off normally before quickly losing altitude. The ram air turbine (RAT) deployed automatically, suggesting severe power failure. The aircraft failed to gain significant height before beginning its descent, sending out a “Mayday” call by 1:39 PM.
Efforts to restart Engine 1 showed some signs of success, but Engine 2 failed to stabilize despite multiple fuel re-injection attempts. The investigation found no evidence of bird strike or the presence of foreign objects along the flight path. Additionally, the aircraft had a valid airworthiness certificate until May 2026, and both engines had been recently installed – in March and May 2025.
The report also pointed to a 2018 FAA advisory that warned of possible fuel control switch malfunctions. However, Air India did not act on it as it was not classified as mandatory. The AAIB noted this as a contributing factor under review.
Air India acknowledged the AAIB’s findings and expressed solidarity with affected families. In a social media post, the airline stated, “We stand in solidarity with the families and individuals impacted by the AI171 tragedy. We extend our deepest condolences and remain committed to supporting all those affected.”
Boeing also issued a statement expressing condolences to the victims’ families and stated it would continue cooperating with investigators, citing ICAO Annex 13 guidelines on international aviation accident protocols.
The AAIB confirmed that the investigation is ongoing. All recovered parts, including broken aircraft components and engine assemblies, have been secured for detailed examination. The agency is collecting and analyzing all relevant data, records, and evidence to determine the root cause of the dual engine shutdown.
