A preliminary probe into the June 12 Air India Boeing 787‑8 disaster reveals a serious cockpit error. Seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, both engine fuel control switches were shifted to “cutoff,” severing fuel supply and causing an abrupt loss of thrust. The crew reset the switches and managed to restart one engine, but it was too late—the aircraft crashed around 30 seconds into flight, killing 260 people onboard and 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.
Cockpit voice recordings captured confusion, as one pilot questioned why the fuel had been cut off, with no one admitting responsibility. Experts emphasize that the switches are protected by safeguards and cannot move accidentally. The report underscores potential human error rather than mechanical failure.
Investigators are not faulting Boeing or the engines. Instead, the focus now turns to crew actions and whether the switch movement was deliberate, unintended, or due to miscommunication. A parallel issue under review: an earlier defect report from the same day flagged a faulty stabilizer sensor aboard the aircraft. The full investigation, aided by international aviation bodies, is ongoing.