SOMETHING HORRIFYING JUST EMERGED FROM THE AIR INDIA 171 CRASH! đ±
A Boeing 787 plummeted from the sky, taking 260 livesâand now a chilling discovery has sent shockwaves through Boeingâs core. Was it a fatal mistake or a hidden flaw they donât want you to know? The truth will leave you stunned!
âïž Click to uncover the secret thatâs rocking aviation!
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, took off from Ahmedabad, India, bound for London Gatwick. Just 32 seconds later, it crashed into a medical college hostel, killing 241 of the 242 people aboard and 19 on the ground. The tragedy, one of Indiaâs deadliest aviation disasters, marked the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787 since its 2011 debut. A preliminary report by Indiaâs Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed a shocking detail: both fuel control switches moved to âCUTOFFâ seconds after takeoff, starving the engines. Was this pilot error, a mechanical flaw, or something more sinister? As investigators probe deeper, the findings have raised alarms about Boeingâs designs and left the aviation world reeling. This article unravels the mystery, its implications, and the human toll.
The Fatal 32 Seconds
Flight 171 departed Ahmedabadâs Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. local time, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew, including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, with 15,600 flight hours, monitored the flight, while First Officer Clive Kunder, 32, with 3,400 hours, was at the controls. The weather was clear, and all systems appeared normal during takeoff. At 1:39 p.m., just 625 feet above ground, the plane lost all thrust and plummeted into a densely populated area, striking trees, a chimney, and a hostel building. The impact and fire destroyed the aircraft and damaged five buildings, leaving only one survivor, Vishwaskumar Ramesh, a 40-year-old British national of Indian origin.
The AAIBâs preliminary report, released July 8, 2025, revealed that both fuel control switches, located on the throttle control module, moved from âRUNâ to âCUTOFFâ seconds after liftoff, cutting fuel to the engines. Cockpit voice recordings captured a haunting exchange: one pilot asked, âWhy did you cut off?â and the other replied, âI didnât.â The switches were flipped back to âRUN,â triggering partial engine relightâone engine was regaining thrust, the other had relit but not recoveredâyet the plane crashed before recovery was possible. A âMaydayâ call was issued six seconds before impact, but air traffic control received no response.
The Fuel Switch Enigma
The fuel control switches, designed with spring-loaded locks to prevent accidental movement, require a deliberate pull-and-flip action. This safety feature, dating to the 1950s, makes unintentional activation unlikely. The AAIB report noted a 2018 FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) warning that some Boeing 737 switches had disengaged locking mechanisms, a design shared with the 787. Air India did not conduct the recommended inspections, as they were advisory, not mandatory. The aircraftâs maintenance logs showed no switch issues, with the throttle module replaced in 2019 and 2023 for unrelated reasons.
The unexplained movement of both switches has sparked debate. Human error seems improbable given the pilotsâ experience and the deliberate action required. Captain Sabharwal, a veteran trained at Indiaâs premier aviation school, was known for mentoring juniors, while Kunder, inspired by his motherâs career as a flight attendant, had a clean record. Both passed pre-flight health checks. Yet, the cockpit exchange suggests confusion, not intent. Theories of a mechanical or electrical faultâpossibly a short circuit or software glitchâhave gained traction, especially after reports of prior electrical issues on the aircraft, including a stabilizer trim transducer fault cleared before the flight.
Boeing Under Scrutiny
Boeing, already reeling from 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019, faces renewed pressure. A speculative theory by The Federal suggests a failure in the 787âs Common Core System (CCS), a digital backbone linking flight controls, avionics, and engines. Unlike Airbusâs segmented systems, the CCSâs centralized design could, in theory, cause cascading failures if compromised, though no evidence confirms this in Flight 171. A separate claim by attorney Mike Andrews, representing victimsâ families, points to a possible water leak in the potable water system shorting electronics, citing an FAA warning from May 2025. This remains unverified.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg canceled plans to attend the Paris Air Show, sent experts to assist the investigation, and issued condolences. The companyâs stock fell nearly 9% in pre-market trading post-crash, reflecting investor fears. The AAIB report made no recommendations against Boeing or the 787, but the FAAâs 2018 SAIB and Air Indiaâs failure to inspect switches have fueled speculation of a design flaw. Simulations by Air India pilots showed the plane could climb with one engine, suggesting the dual-engine shutdown was catastrophic and unusual.
The Human Tragedy
The crashâs toll was devastating. Among the victims were Javed Syed, 37, his wife Mariam, 35, and their children, Zayn, 6, and Amani, 4, a British family returning from Mumbai. The sole survivor, Vishwaskumar Ramesh, escaped the wreckage but lost his brother. Families, like Imtiyaz Ali Syedâs, traveled to Ahmedabad for DNA identification, grappling with unimaginable loss. On the ground, 19 died, and 67 were injured, many in the hostel. Air India and the Tata Group established the AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust to support victimsâ families, but grief persists.
The crash also exposed Air Indiaâs safety issues. In the past six months, the airline received 13 notices for violations, including a fire in an Airbus A321âs power unit and a flight veering off the runway. Over 100 pilots took medical leave post-crash, raising concerns about morale and oversight. The Indian government has demanded better safety protocols, amplifying pressure on the airline.
The Investigationâs Path
The AAIB, with support from Boeing, General Electric, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, and UK investigators, is analyzing the wreckage and black boxes. The front flight recorderâs data was recovered, but the rear recorder was too damaged. The investigation faces hurdles: verifying whether the switches moved due to a fault, human action, or external factors like a software glitch. A 2019 incident on an All Nippon Airways 787, where software misjudged the planeâs status and cut an engine, suggests a possible parallel, though unconfirmed.
The Federalâs CCS theory, while compelling, lacks concrete evidence. Water ingress, as proposed by Andrews, could explain electrical failures, but maintenance logs are pending. The FAA and Indian regulators have mandated enhanced inspections of Air Indiaâs 787 fleet, with no major issues found so far.
Whatâs Next?
The final AAIB report, due within a year under ICAO rules, may clarify the cause, but complex investigations often take longer. If a design flaw is confirmed, it could ground 787s worldwide or force costly retrofits, further denting Boeingâs reputation. For now, the focus is on the fuel switches and potential systemic issues. The crash has reignited debates about aviation safety, pilot training, and reliance on automated systems.
For the families, the wait for answers is agonizing. The haunting cockpit recordingâtwo pilots unaware of why their plane was failingâunderscores the tragedyâs suddenness. As investigators sift through scorched cables and data, the world watches, hoping for clarity in a disaster that shook aviation to its core.
Conclusion
The Air India Flight 171 crash is a stark reminder of aviationâs fragility, where seconds can mean the difference between life and death. The mysterious fuel switch movement has cast a shadow over Boeing, raising questions about design, maintenance, and human factors. While the truth remains elusive, the loss of 260 lives demands answersânot just for justice, but to ensure such a tragedy never repeats. As the investigation unfolds, the aviation industry braces for revelations that could reshape its future.