What?

On June 12, 2025, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Flight 171), en route to London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, resulting in 260 fatalities (241 on board and 19 on the ground). The aircraft lost all engine thrust 32 seconds after lift-off due to both fuel control switches moving to 'cutoff', instantly severing fuel flow. Only one passenger survived. A preliminary report has ruled out mechanical failure of the aircraft or engines.

So what?

The core event—a dual, nearly simultaneous transition of both spring-loaded, guarded fuel control switches from RUN to CUTOFF—raises critical human-system interaction questions. These switches require deliberate, upward-pulling force to unlock and actuate, and are shielded by metal guards to prevent inadvertent contact. Given this, the mechanical likelihood of accidental activation is low.

Then what?

The investigation into the crash of Air India Flight 171 is still in its early stages. The preliminary report has sparked more questions than it has provided answers. Initial findings confirm that both engine fuel control switches were sequentially moved to the CUTOFF position shortly after takeoff, resulting in a total loss of thrust just 32 seconds into flight. These switches are mechanically protected against accidental activation, and investigators have not yet determined how or why they were actuated. The cockpit voice recorder captured confusion between the pilots—one asking why the fuel was cut off, the other denying doing so.

Despite the catastrophic outcome, no safety directives or recommendations have been issued to Boeing or GE, and neither the FAA nor Boeing has taken regulatory or design action regarding the 787’s fuel control system. The crash has also reignited debate over cockpit video recorders, with safety advocates and human factors experts noting that visual data could provide critical insights into pilot actions, interface interactions, and crew behavior in high-tempo scenarios where seconds matter.

As the investigation unfolds over the coming months, it is important to emphasize the need for comprehensive analysis of human performance and behavior—not just to understand what happened, but to improve the design, training, and safety systems that support human operators in complex, high-risk environments.

Link to AAIB Preliminary Report: https://aaib.gov.in/What's%20New%20Assets/Preliminary%20Report%20VT-ANB.pdf

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