The initial investigation report into the recent Air India aircraft accident in Ahmedabad has been released, revealing a series of deeply concerning findings. According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India, the primary cause of the crash appears to be the simultaneous shutdown of both engines just seconds after takeoff.
The incident occurred on June 12, 2025, at 1:39 PM Indian Standard Time. The Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft, registered as VT-ANB, was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick when it crashed into a residential hostel building associated with B.J. Medical College, located approximately one kilometer from the runway.
Despite having reached the altitude required for a stable climb, both engines transitioned from the “RUN” to “CUTOFF” mode unexpectedly, raising serious questions about what triggered the engine fuel cutoff. Voice recordings indicate a brief discussion between the pilots—Captain Sumit Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar—just seconds before the crash, debating who might have deactivated the fuel supply switch.
Data shows that someone manually turned off the fuel cutoff switch moments before the engines failed, though the identity of that person remains unclear. Efforts were made by the pilots to restart the engines, but only one responded partially, and not in time to prevent the disaster. During this critical phase, the aircraft’s emergency power system (RAT) was automatically deployed.
The aircraft disintegrated across an area between 1,000 and 4,000 feet and was completely destroyed by fire. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground, totaling 260 fatalities. One passenger survived with severe injuries.
The AAIB is leading the investigation with technical support from experts in the United States, United Kingdom, Portugal, and Canada. The aircraft, manufactured in 2012, had no reported maintenance issues and was operating within its weight limits. There were no hazardous materials on board.
One of the flight recorders was successfully recovered, containing 46 hours of flight data and two hours of cockpit voice recordings, including the critical moments of the crash. The second black box was too badly damaged to yield any usable data.
According to the report, the aircraft received takeoff clearance at 08:07 UTC and issued a “MAYDAY” distress call at 08:09 UTC—just two minutes later.
The investigation continues to determine how and why the fuel cutoff switches were triggered, and whether it was due to human error or technical malfunction. The findings have sent shockwaves through the aviation industry and prompted renewed scrutiny of cockpit procedures and safety systems.