'Why did you cut off fuel?': Pilots’ last conversation out in Ahmedabad plane crash probe
Ahmedabad plane crash report: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary findings into the devastating June 12 crash of Air India flight AI171, confirming a critical cockpit conversation just moments before both engines of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner shut down mid-air.
According to the 15-page AAIB report, cockpit voice recordings captured a brief but alarming exchange between the two pilots as the fuel cutoff switches for both engines transitioned from ‘Run’ to ‘Cutoff’. One pilot was heard asking, “Why did you cut off fuel?”, to which the other immediately responded, “I did not do so.” This occurred at 13:38:42 IST (08:08:42 UTC), just as the aircraft reached its top indicated airspeed of 180 knots after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
At the controls were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, a veteran pilot with over 15,600 flight hours—more than 8,500 on the Boeing 787—and First Officer Clive Kunder, 32, who had logged over 3,400 hours and had been with Air India since 2017. Both were fully licensed and medically cleared to operate the flight, which was headed for London Gatwick.
The AAIB report outlines a sequence of events that unfolded rapidly in the final moments before the crash. Just seconds after the unexplained engine shutdown, the crew attempted to restart both engines:
At 13:38:52 IST (08:08:52 UTC), the Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch was moved back to 'Run',
Followed by Engine 2 at 13:38:56 IST (08:08:56 UTC).
The Engine and Aircraft Flight Recorder (EAFR) data showed a rise in Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) on both engines, indicating ignition activity. Engine 1 responded with signs of recovery, but Engine 2 failed to stabilise despite repeated restart efforts. Both engines had seen their N2 rotor speeds drop below idle levels—a critical loss of power.
The aircraft subsequently plunged into the BJ Medical College hostel complex, resulting in a death toll of 260, including 241 passengers and crew onboard and 19 persons on the ground. One passenger survived. The crash is now considered India’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades.
The AAIB confirmed that both engines were recovered from the debris and secured for further forensic examination. Wreckage site documentation, including drone videography and photography, has been completed, and the remains of the aircraft have been moved to a secure hangar for detailed analysis.
However, the aft section of the EAFR suffered significant damage, preventing data extraction through conventional means. So far, the AAIB has not issued any safety recommendations for Boeing 787-8 operators or GE GEnx-1B engine users.
The agency added that further evidence is being collected from stakeholders, and a final report will be released after additional analysis. A status update was earlier issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on June 26.
- With inputs from agencies
