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New Delhi: It’s been a year since the Air India Flight AI171 tragedy in Ahmedabad which left 260 people dead, and horrified the country. On June 12, 2025, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from London. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner had just departed the London route to its destination when it crashed just seconds after it took off on June 12, 2025. Though the calamity is an incredible aviation accident in the recent history of India there is yet one big question that has not been answered – What caused the crash?
Unfortunately, families of the victims, aviation experts and the public had been waiting for a clear explanation. But investigators are still no closer to finding a final report after 1 year. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has stated that the investigation process is still ongoing and in the final stages with no exact time frame provided for the completion of the investigations. 241 out of the 242 passengers on board and other 19 on the ground when the aircraft crashed there, in the BJ Medical College hostel area near the Ahmedabad airport, were killed. One passenger was injured and one escaped.
The information in a preliminary report issued in July, 2025 said there was an unexpected and enigmatic piece of information. Shortly after takeoff, it is believed, the investigators found that both of these engine fuel control switches were in the wrong position. Investigators say both of these engine fuel control switches were in the “CUTOFF” position shortly after departure. Provided that any action took place that prevented fuel from reaching the engines, both lost power almost immediately. The aircraft immediately started to descend.
But the case is even stranger because of the cockpit voice recording. It is noticed that one of the pilots called out, and asked the other, “Why did you cut off?” The second pilot responded that he did not do so. It did not specify if the switches were moved in some way, or if they had a mechanical issue, or whether they were moved by someone else. The investigators also found that neither pilot could be blamed.
Initial investigations eliminated some of the early speculation surrounding the mystery. No hard weather effects, bird strike or sabotage issues were witnessed. It had been airworthy, and regular maintenance records indicated no significant issues prior to the flight. The aircraft’s engines and fuel-control systems have also received a thorough investigation. Relays of this technical analysis complexity are a key reason for the delay in reporting the final report, reports say. Boeing, U.S. and UK experts have also been involved in the investigation.
The rumors of potential work with pilots have been in the news and online in the past few months, along with rumors that there have been technical issues. Yet aviation authorities have echoed the public on many occasions to “wait and see” until the final report. All technical, operational, and human factors are being considered during the investigation, and the AAIB has repeated that it’s not conducting a punitive action.
The waiting for the families who have lost loved ones has been bitter. Many state that they’re not only receiving compensation, but also the truth of what went on in those last moments. A year later the pain is still raw, questions still unsolved. The families of those killed in the Ahmedabad Air India crash have yet to come to terms with the mystery, and the country remains unfulfilled even after the final report.
English (US) ·