Air India Flight 171 Crash Mystery Deepens: Cockpit Audio Reveals Fuel Cut-Off Questions

Air India Flight 171 Crash: Fuel Cut-Off Mystery

The investigation into the Air India Flight 171 crash, which tragically killed 260 people in Ahmedabad, India, has uncovered alarming details. Preliminary findings point to a critical issue shortly after takeoff.

Disturbing Cockpit Audio

Moments after takeoff, both fuel-control switches on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner were abruptly moved to the "cut-off" position. This action resulted in a complete loss of engine power.

A chilling cockpit recording captured a pilot questioning the other about the fuel cut-off, with the other denying any involvement.

Key Findings and Questions

• The incident occurred while the co-pilot was flying and the captain was monitoring.
• The switches were subsequently reset, and the engines began to relight.
• One engine was regaining thrust, but the other had not fully recovered when the plane crashed.

Investigators are now intensely focused on determining why the fuel switches were activated. These switches are designed with safety locks to prevent accidental activation, requiring them to be lifted before flipping. Experts find it highly improbable that both could be switched off simultaneously by accident.

FAA Advisory and Switch Concerns

The US FAA had previously issued an advisory regarding potentially disengaged locking features on similar switches in Boeing 737s. This issue is now being examined in relation to the crashed 787.

The cockpit voice recorder is considered a crucial piece of evidence for identifying who manipulated the switches and understanding their motivation.

Pilot Status

Before the flight, both pilots had passed breathalyser tests and were deemed fit to fly. The aircraft climbed to 625 feet before the crash, which occurred in clear weather conditions.