Black‑box data shows the aircraft reached take‑off speed around 08:08:33 UTC and climbed to approximately 180 knots by 08:08:42 UTC. Within a one‑second interval, engine fuel‑cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF for both engines. As a result, engine N1 and N2 values dropped drastically, the ram air turbine deployed automatically, and the aircraft failed to gain altitude before its catastrophic descent.
Cockpit voice recordings capture the chilling moment one pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” and the other denying, “I did not do so.” A mayday distress call followed seconds before the crash. The switches were later found returned to RUN at the wreckage, indicating an attempted relight that came too late to rescue the flight.
The AAIB noted no technical flaws in the Boeing 787 airframe or GE GEnx‑1B engines at this preliminary stage. Yet, the movement of the switches—requiring deliberate mechanical action—is under scrutiny. Aviation experts argue accidental activation is highly improbable, though how they were moved remains unexplained.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, had logged over 15,600 flight hours including nearly 8,600 on the 787; First Officer Clive Kunder, 32, had approximately 3,400 hours and was the pilot flying. Neither pilot’s cockpit comments were attributed definitively, and it remains unclear which issued the mayday at 08:09:05 UTC.
Flight‑recorder and CCTV evidence revealed that the ram air turbine deployed immediately after liftoff, confirming engine failure. Surveillance footage showed no bird strike or external debris; the aircraft began losing altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall.
Investigators are exploring whether the fuel‑cutoff switches were toggled intentionally or caused by a mechanical defect. A US Federal Aviation Administration advisory bulletin issued in 2018 highlighted a potential issue with the fuel‑switch locking mechanism on 787 models; inspections were recommended but not mandated. Air India reports it did not perform those advisory checks, and no defects had been logged since its last major throttle control replacement in 2023.
International aviation regulators, including the US NTSB and FAA, alongside Boeing and GE, are supporting the investigation. AAIB emphasises no immediate safety directives are being issued to operators pending deeper analysis. Final findings are expected within a year, under International Civil Aviation Organization timelines.
Air India, now under Tata Group ownership since 2022, has pledged full cooperation. Boeing has expressed condolences and assistance without admitting responsibility. GE Aerospace has confirmed it will analyse cockpit data. The tragedy has intensified regulatory scrutiny of the carrier’s adherence to safety protocols, prompting broader industry reflection on system integrity and cockpit procedures.
Authorities in Ahmedabad have reconstructed rescue efforts and emergency response timelines. The crash devastated the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College hostel, where several students lost their lives. DNA identification for all 260 victims was completed by the end of June.
The Air India disaster has reignited global concerns over the safety of advanced aircraft systems and crew protocols. As investigation teams delve into whether human error or mechanical anomaly triggered the shutdown, the aviation community awaits clarity on how such engineered safety measures could have been compromised.