Joseph Isangura
A preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India (AAIB) has revealed that the fuel control switches of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner were shifted from “run” to “cutoff” just moments after takeoff, causing a catastrophic loss of engine thrust.
The aircraft, bound for London Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people onboard and on the ground.
The incident now stands as the world’s deadliest aviation disaster in more than a decade.
According to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), one pilot asked the other, “Why did you cut off the fuel?”—to which the other denied doing so. Moments later, the aircraft sent out a Mayday call before slamming into a nearby building.
The preliminary report stops short of assigning responsibility and does not conclude whether the switch activation was intentional, accidental, or due to a mechanical fault.
A fuel control switch is a critical component in jet aircraft. It manages the flow of fuel to the engines and is normally secured with a mechanical detent to prevent it from being moved by mistake. Aviation experts say it takes deliberate action to flip such a switch to the “cutoff” position.
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The Dreamliner involved in the crash had undergone scheduled maintenance and had both its throttle control modules replaced in 2019 and again in 2023, following manufacturer advisories by Boeing. However, there was no reported issue with its flight control systems or engine functionality at the time of the accident.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has said it will continue to monitor the situation, but has not issued any new Airworthiness Directive (AD) regarding the Boeing 787’s fuel switch system.
Boeing responded publicly, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and pledging its full cooperation with Indian authorities. The company also emphasized that the 787 Dreamliner has logged millions of safe flight hours globally.
Families of the victims—many from India and the United Kingdom—have called for transparency and a full explanation. “This report raises more questions than it answers,” said one relative at a memorial service held in Mumbai.
Lawyers for several families have also questioned whether enough safeguards were in place to prevent inadvertent human error in the cockpit, especially during takeoff, one of the most dangerous phases of flight.
The AAIB says it will continue analyzing data from the flight data recorder (FDR), as well as reviewing pilot training records, recent maintenance logs, and any potential design flaws.
A full and final report, expected in late 2025, will aim to clarify:
- How and why the fuel switch was moved;
- Whether Boeing’s cockpit interface contributed to the incident;
- And what can be done to ensure this never happens again.
