Air India Flight AI171 Tragedy: Preliminary Report Reveals Engine Failure and Harrowing Final Moments

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has released its preliminary report on the Air India flight AI171 crash, a Boeing 787-8, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. The accident resulted in the loss of 260 lives. The report details the critical events that transpired in the 90 seconds following takeoff, including the unexpected shutdown of both engines. Flight data indicates that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were inadvertently moved to the CUTOFF position within a second of each other. The pilots attempted to restart the engines, but the aircraft was unable to regain altitude, and a distress call was issued moments before the crash into residential buildings. The investigation is ongoing, with further analysis of cockpit recordings, engine components, and maintenance records.