Air India has acknowledged the receipt of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report on the tragic crash of flight AI171 in Ahmedabad, which claimed 260 lives. The airline reiterated its full cooperation with investigators and expressed continued condolences for the victims.
In a statement shared on X, the airline said, “We continue to mourn the loss and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. Air India is working closely with stakeholders, including regulators. We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses.”
Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, resulting in the deaths of 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground. The 15-page preliminary report, released by the AAIB on Friday, detailed a sudden and fatal sequence of events just 90 seconds after liftoff.
Flight data revealed that the aircraft’s fuel cutoff switches were inadvertently moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within one second of each other, shutting down both engines and leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust. One pilot was recorded asking, “Why did you cut off?” to which the other responded, “I did not.” Despite efforts to restart the engines, only one showed partial recovery, and the aircraft was unable to regain altitude.
Citing the ongoing nature of the investigation, Air India declined to comment on the report’s technical findings. “Given the active nature of the investigation, we are unable to comment on specific details and refer all such enquiries to the AAIB,” the airline added.
The final AAIB report is expected in the coming months. The crash stands as one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indian history, prompting intensive review and analysis by Indian and international aviation authorities.
