The Tragic Air India B787-8 Dreamliner Crash (VT-ANB): Key Findings from the Preliminary Report

On 12 June 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 dreamliner (VT-ANB), crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London Gatwick. The preliminary report has been published, with many key findings ✅

Tragically, everyone except for 1 of the 242 people onboard and 19 people on the ground were killed. The preliminary investigation sheds light on a sudden loss of thrust during the initial climb.

Let’s take a look, you can find the official preliminary report at the bottom ⤵️

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💡 Accident Overview

🔸 Date & Time: 12 June 2025, 08:09 UTC (13:39 IST)

🔸 Flight: AI171 from Ahmedabad (VAAH) to London Gatwick (EGKK)

🔸 Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, VT-ANB

🔸 Persons on Board: 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, 2 flight crew

🔸 Fatalities: 241 onboard (1 survivor) + 19 fatalities on the ground

🔸 Point of Impact: BJ Medical College hostel area, 0.9 NM from Runway 23

🔸 Phase of Flight: Departure Phase

⏱️ Timeline of Events

On the morning of 12 June 2025, Air India Flight 171 prepared for departure from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (Ahmedabad) to London Gatwick.

At 07:43 UTC, the crew requested pushback and start-up, which was approved shortly after. By 07:49 UTC, they confirmed they’d need the full length of Runway 23 for takeoff.

Taxi clearance came at 07:55 UTC, and the aircraft began moving toward the runway. At 08:03, it was lined up and ready. The takeoff clearance was issued at 08:07:33 UTC, and the aircraft began its takeoff roll just a few seconds later.

Everything was normal until 08:08:33 UTC, when the aircraft passed V1 speed: the point beyond which takeoff must continue even if a problem occurs.

Two seconds later, at 08:08:35 UTC, the pilots rotated and the aircraft lifted off at 08:08:39.

Just three seconds after liftoff, at 08:08:42 UTC, the aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS, and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 1 second.

For reference, this is where those switches are, near the thrust levers:

The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off.

In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.

With no thrust, the aircraft began losing altitude. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency power source (deployed automatically).

Engine 1 was reactivated at 08:08:52 UTC, and Engine 2 followed at 08:08:56. The APU also tried to auto-start.

Engine 1 showed signs of recovering, but Engine 2 struggled. There wasn’t enough time or altitude. At 08:09:05, one of the pilots made a “MAYDAY” call, but it was the last transmission.

Just seconds later, the aircraft crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel complex, less than a mile from the end of the runway.

Rescue vehicles left the airport at 08:14 UTC. Out of 242 people onboard, only one passenger survived with serious injuries. Nineteen people on the ground were also killed.

✅ Investigation Findings

🔸 Crew: PIC (56 y/o) with over 15,000 hours; FO (32 y/o) with 3,400+ hours. Both were fit to operate that day

🔸 Aircraft Status: Airworthy with recent maintenance; 4 CAT C MELs and 1 CAT A MEL active, but all within limits

🔸 No Birdstrike or Fuel Contamination Found: Fuel quality tested and confirmed satisfactory

🔸 Engines Shut Down Unexpectedly: Both fuel control switches moved to CUTOFF one second apart.

🔸 The fuel control switch design has previously been the subject of a non-mandatory FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) due to possible locking disengagement. The FAA issued SAIB No. NM-18-33 on December 17, 2018, regarding the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature. This SAIB was issued based on reports from operators of Model 737 airplanes that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. The airworthiness concern was not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) by the FAA.

🔸The scrutiny of maintenance records revealed that the throttle control module was replaced on VT-ANB in 2019 and 2023. However, the reason for the replacement was not linked to the fuel control switch. There has been no defect reported pertaining to the fuel control switch since 2023 on VT-ANB.

🔸 RAT Deployment Confirmed: Indicates engine power loss

🔸 Cockpit Recordings: Capture confusion over fuel shutoff; one pilot questions why the fuel was cut off

🔸 Relight Attempted Mid-Air: Fuel switches returned to RUN; Engine 1 showed recovery, Engine 2 struggled

🔸 Crash Site Analysis: Wreckage spread across ~1000 ft x 400 ft; aircraft impacted trees, chimneys, and buildings in a wings-level, slightly nose-up attitude

🔸 Flight Recorders: Forward Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFR) successfully downloaded; aft recorder too damaged

💬 Next Steps

The preliminary investigation report reveals that the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 is linked to an unexplained and rapid dual engine shutdown during initial climb, with both pilots unaware of having commanded it.

The aircraft lost altitude and crashed into a populated area. The cause of the fuel cutoff remains under investigation, with further analysis ongoing into mechanical, human, and system interfaces.

Please keep in mind that these findings are not yet conclusive, the investigation is still ongoing and more information will be added here when the final investigation report gets published.

Please find the preliminary report here: