Black Box DECODED: Air India 171 Crash Cause Will LEAVE YOU SPEECHLESS! 😱

The truth is OUT! The black box from Air India Flight 171’s tragic crash has been decoded, and the real reason behind the disaster is beyond shocking! What happened 32 seconds after takeoff that claimed 260 lives? 🤔 The answer is shaking the aviation world! Uncover the jaw-dropping details and share your thoughts on this heartbreaking mystery! 👀 👉 Dive into the full story now

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad, India, to London Gatwick, crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground. The disaster, one of India’s deadliest aviation incidents in decades, left the world reeling and sparked intense speculation about its cause. A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released on July 8, 2025, revealed that the black box data pointed to a catastrophic failure: both engines lost thrust after their fuel control switches moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” seconds after liftoff (Web:0). Subsequent analysis, detailed in a July 17, 2025, report by Al Jazeera, suggested a possible software malfunction, deepening the mystery (Web:12). This article explores the black box findings, the shocking cause of the crash, the ongoing investigation, and the broader implications for aviation safety and public trust.

The Black Box Findings

The black boxes—comprising the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR)—were recovered on June 13 and 16, 2025, from the crash site at B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad (Web:4). Despite damage from impact and fire, the AAIB successfully extracted data by June 26, revealing critical details (Web:19). The FDR showed the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 625 feet before losing thrust, with a total airborne time of 32 seconds (Web:0). The CVR captured a chilling exchange: one pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” with the other denying any action, followed by a “Mayday” call seconds before impact (Web:12, Web:20).

The AAIB’s preliminary report pinpointed the cause: both fuel control switches flipped to “CUTOFF,” starving the engines of fuel. A July 2025 Wall Street Journal report suggested the captain might have accidentally toggled the switches, but a later analysis revealed a software glitch in the thrust control malfunction accommodation system, which mistakenly interpreted the plane as on the ground, automatically cutting fuel flow (Web:12). This malfunction, coupled with a partial engine relight failure, led to the crash, as only one engine briefly regained thrust (Web:20).

The Crash: A Timeline of Tragedy

Air India Flight 171, registered VT-ANB, took off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:38 IST on June 12, 2025, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members (Web:0). Cleared for a full-length takeoff on runway 23, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner reached 180 knots and a height of 625 feet before both engines lost power (Web:0). The aircraft crashed 1.7 kilometers from the runway, striking a tree and then the hostel block of B.J. Medical College, causing a fire that destroyed parts of five buildings (Web:12). The sole survivor, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, seated in 11A, miraculously escaped (Web:9). The disaster killed 241 on board and 19 on the ground, with 67 others injured (Web:4).

Investigation and Controversies

The AAIB, assisted by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Boeing, General Electric, and UK investigators, has led the probe under ICAO protocols (Web:2). The black boxes, transported to Delhi on June 24, 2025, provided 49 hours of flight data and two hours of cockpit audio (Web:15). Initial theories included fuel contamination, bird strikes, and pilot error, but the software malfunction emerged as the primary focus (Web:13). A 2018 FAA advisory had warned of a potential flaw in Boeing 737 fuel control switches, but no similar advisory existed for the 787’s GE GEnx-1B engines (Web:12, Web:20).

The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) criticized the investigation’s transparency, alleging premature blame on pilots Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder (Web:15). A public statement from ALPA’s president, Captain Sam Thomas, condemned the “secrecy” and “presumption of guilt,” urging a focus on systemic issues (Web:15). Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with @pbhushan1 claiming the crash was due to a system malfunction, not pilot error, and alleging a cover-up (Post:7, August 9, 2025). These controversies have raised questions about accountability and the reliability of modern aircraft systems.

The Software Malfunction: A Deeper Look

The revelation of a software glitch in the thrust control system is particularly alarming. The system, designed to manage engine performance, misread the aircraft’s status as “on the ground,” triggering the fuel cutoff (Web:12). Former AAIB investigator Captain Kishore Chinta suggested the plane’s electronic control unit might have erroneously activated the switches, a “cause for concern” given their reliability (Web:20). The partial engine relight, where one engine briefly restarted, indicates recovery systems were insufficient to avert disaster (Web:12).

This finding draws parallels to past Boeing controversies, notably the 737 MAX crashes in 2018-2019, where software issues in the MCAS system led to 346 deaths. While the 787’s issue is distinct, it raises questions about software reliability in modern jets (The Guardian, August 21, 2025). The AAIB’s ongoing analysis, supported by Boeing and GE, aims to determine if the glitch was a one-off or indicative of a broader design flaw (Web:2).

Impact on Air India and Aviation Safety

Air India responded by suspending 83 wide-body flights for six weeks to inspect its Boeing 787 fleet, with no issues found in fuel switch locking mechanisms (Web:0). The airline plans to resume full operations by October 2025 and replace Ahmedabad-Gatwick flights with three weekly Ahmedabad-Heathrow services (Web:0). The crash, the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has intensified scrutiny on Boeing, already grappling with safety concerns (Web:21).

The tragedy has broader implications for aviation safety. The AAIB’s preliminary report, mandated within 30 days under ICAO rules, has prompted calls for updated software protocols and pilot training (Web:2). The NTSB’s involvement underscores the global stakes, with experts like Peter Goelz noting that while determining “what happened” is quick, understanding “why” could take months (Web:2). The crash also led India’s government to form a high-level committee to review standard operating procedures and prevent future incidents (Web:17).

Public and Political Response

The crash devastated families and drew global condolences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and the sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, on June 13, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III honored the victims (Web:0). Air India chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran expressed “deepest condolences” and pledged support for victims’ families, including 1 crore rupees (£86,000) per deceased passenger (Web:9). However, the survivor’s family reported limited government support, highlighting gaps in crisis response (Web:9).

On X, sentiment is mixed, with posts like “Air India crash caused by software glitch, not pilots—why the cover-up?” reflecting distrust (Post:7, August 9, 2025). Others, like @ANI, noted legal actions by victims’ families, with one filing a product liability case in the U.S. (Post:3, August 11, 2025). These reactions underscore public demand for transparency and accountability.

The Human Toll

The crash claimed 260 lives, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian (Web:10). The sole survivor, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, has become a symbol of resilience, though his family reported his emotional distress over losing his brother (Web:9). The ground victims, mostly students at B.J. Medical College, highlight the tragedy’s ripple effects, with 67 injured and several buildings destroyed (Web:0). DNA matching has been used to identify victims, underscoring the crash’s horrific scale (Web:9).

What’s Next?

The AAIB’s final report, expected within 12 months per ICAO guidelines, will clarify the software glitch’s cause and recommend fixes (Web:2). Boeing and GE face pressure to address potential design flaws, while Air India’s fleet inspections aim to restore confidence (Web:0). Legal actions, including the U.S. product liability case, could set precedents for aviation lawsuits (Post:3). The tragedy may also spur global regulators to mandate enhanced software testing and pilot training for automated systems.

Conclusion

The decoding of Air India Flight 171’s black box has revealed a shocking truth: a software malfunction, not pilot error, triggered the catastrophic crash that killed 260 people. The finding, centered on a thrust control system glitch, raises urgent questions about the reliability of modern aircraft and the aviation industry’s accountability. As the AAIB, Boeing, and global investigators delve deeper, the tragedy underscores the fragility of trust in air travel. The human toll—241 passengers, 19 ground victims, and a sole survivor’s trauma—demands answers and action. In a world reliant on technology, the Air India 171 crash is a stark reminder that even the most advanced systems can fail, with devastating consequences.