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Air India Crash Investigation Focuses on Fuel Switches

Preliminary report scrutinizes their positions before the fatal jet accident.

An Air India Boeing 787-8
Air India Boeing 787-8 [Credit: Shutterstock/Soos Jozsef]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Preliminary investigation into a June Air India crash, which killed 260 people, indicates the aircraft's engine fuel supply was unexpectedly shut off shortly after takeoff.
  • Cockpit voice recorder data reveals both pilots were surprised by the fuel cutoff, with one denying the action when questioned by the other.
  • Though pilots attempted to restore fuel and restart engines, the aircraft crashed into a building off the runway, and the investigation remains preliminary with no causes or recommendations yet.
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The preliminary investigation into the crash of an Air India flight in June suggests the fuel supply to the engines was shut off shortly after takeoff—an act that surprised both pilots, according to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR).

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had just lifted off from Ahmedabad airport (VAAH) bound for London when video shows the airline barely climbing, then it began a slow descent into a building off the end of the runway. The crash and subsequent fire killed 260 people, of whom 18 were on the ground. One passenger survived.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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