Photo: Shutterstock On Thursday, June 12, 2025, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft belonging to Air India (registration VT-ANB) crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport in India on flight AI171 to London Gatwick.
This information emerges from a preliminary report published by the Indian Air Accidents Investigation Authority (AAIB).
Onboard the plane were 230 passengers and 12 crew members, all of whom perished, along with 19 civilians killed on the ground. In total, the crash resulted in 260 fatalities, making it one of the most severe aviation accidents in India's history.
Unusual Cockpit Recording: "Why Did You Turn It Off?"
The report describes a dramatic and unexpected sequence of events: Minutes after takeoff, the flight reached a speed of 180 knots, and then, almost simultaneously, both fuel switches for the engines were turned off. This information is supported by audio recordings, in which one pilot is heard asking the other: "Why did you turn it off?", to which the response was: "I didn't turn it off."
The pilots attempted to restart the engines. One engine showed signs of recovery, but the other failed. At a low altitude and without sufficient power, the plane began to lose altitude rapidly.
Fatal Crash on College Campus
The aircraft crashed into five buildings on the BJ Medical College campus, approximately 0.9 miles from the end of runway 23. Debris was scattered over an area of about 300 meters. The tail was embedded in the northeastern wall of a building, engines were separated, and the buildings suffered extensive fire damage. Passengers were killed instantly.
Technical Integrity and Unimplemented Warning
According to the report, the aircraft had undergone proper maintenance and was in valid airworthy condition. No major malfunctions were reported before takeoff, apart from minor issues that did not affect safety.
The report mentions a safety alert issued by the US FAA in 2018 regarding the possibility of incorrect disconnection of fuel switches in Boeing aircraft - but this was not implemented, as it was not mandatory.
Full Documentation: Front Black Box Survives
Both recording devices were found: the rear one was severely damaged, but the front was intact and allowed for a full data recovery of six flights, including the accident flight.
Data indicates no signs of mechanical failure before the event; instead, there was a deliberate or accidental shutdown of both engines within seconds.
International Investigation Teams Awaiting Conclusions
Alongside the Indian AAIB, the investigation includes aviation safety authorities from the USA (NTSB), UK, Canada, and Portugal, countries whose citizens were on the plane.
Companies like Boeing, GE, and the US FAA sent representatives to the site.
At this stage, no new safety guidelines have been issued for the aircraft and engine manufacturers.
The report does not identify any known technical fault leading to the event, but raises questions regarding the fuel control mechanism, crew performance, and unimplemented safety alerts.
The investigation continues and is expected to last for months.