Air India Crash Investigation Focuses on Fuel Switches

Preliminary report scrutinizes their positions before the fatal jet accident.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, July 14, 2025 at 03:13 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Ryan Ewing

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

Key Takeaways:

The preliminary investigation into an Air India flight crash revealed the fuel supply to the engines was shut off shortly after takeoff, an act that surprised both pilots according to the cockpit voice recorder.
The fuel cutoff switches, designed to be resistant to accidental movement, were moved from "RUN" to "CUTOFF" position, but both pilots on the CVR denied initiating the action.
Despite attempts to restore fuel and power, the aircraft, out of runway, descended into a building off the end of the runway, killing 260 people, with only one survivor.

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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.