Why Would a Pilot Cut Fuel Mid-Air? Unpacking the Air India AI171 Tragedy
- Charlene Bekker
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
When Air India flight AI171 crashed into a residential area of Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025, killing 260 people, the world was stunned.
In the days that followed, grief turned to disbelief, and now to confusion, as a preliminary crash report reveals a haunting mystery: both engines were cut off just seconds after takeoff. Why?
The early findings suggest that fuel to both engines was manually shut off by cockpit controls less than a minute after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner reached its highest recorded speed, 180 knots. The report states that the fuel cutoff switches moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” one after the other, spaced just a second apart. With that, the engines died. And with no thrust, the aircraft was doomed.
The voice recorder captured one of the pilots asking the other why the fuel had been cut. The reply: “I didn’t do it.”
Could It Have Been an Accident?
That’s the most troubling question facing aviation experts and investigators alike. Could a trained pilot, sitting in a billion-rand jetliner, flip the wrong switch?
According to John Cox, a respected US aviation safety expert, the answer is no. “You can’t bump them and they move,” he said, referring to the engine fuel cutoff switches. These controls are typically protected by covers or require deliberate force to toggle, precisely because of how critical they are.
So then, what happened?
A Case of Mistaken Switches?
One theory being floated is that the pilot might have believed he was lifting the landing gear lever, a routine step moments after takeoff, and instead pulled the fuel cutoff switch.
It’s far-fetched, but not impossible.
On many aircraft, including the Dreamliner, the landing gear and fuel controls are distinctly shaped and located. Still, under stress or disorientation, particularly in a high workload environment, a human error cannot be ruled out. Cognitive overload, spatial confusion, or a sudden distraction could lead to what’s called a “mode confusion” mistake: the right action on the wrong control.
But there’s another wrinkle: both engines were shut down separately, one second apart. That doesn’t suggest a single mistaken movement, it may imply a deliberate sequence.
Was It Intentional?
The cockpit exchange recorded suggests surprise, even disbelief. One pilot was clearly unaware the switch had been flipped. But the lack of clarity about who flipped the switch, and why, leaves the door open to some chilling possibilities.
Could it have been sabotage? A tragic mental health crisis? A fight or miscommunication in the cockpit?
The investigation has not revealed the names behind the voices yet. But experts agree: if one pilot flipped the fuel switches on purpose, it would rank among the deadliest acts of pilot suicide in history, comparable to the Germanwings Flight 9525 disaster in 2015.
However, at this stage, there is no evidence to support that theory. No distress signs, no prior concerns about crew mental health, and no known emergencies requiring a fuel cutoff.
No Bird Strike, No Emergency
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) ruled out other common causes like bird strikes or engine fire. There was no emergency call until the engines were already failing. No indication of smoke, fire, or malfunction. The plane was in good condition. The fuel was clean. The engines were working, until they weren’t.
One of the engines even began to restart during descent. But it was too late.
A Catastrophic Human Error?
For now, the likeliest cause appears to be a tragic cockpit error, or, worse, deliberate action by one of the pilots. It’s a possibility that’s hard to accept, but aviation history reminds us: the human factor is the most unpredictable part of any flight.
Even with rigorous training, human beings are capable of mistakes. But two fuel switches? One after another? That’s what keeps investigators awake at night.
Survivors and Aftermath
Only one man survived: British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who crawled out of the burning wreckage. His account paints a harrowing picture of confusion, flickering lights, and the instant impact as the plane slammed into a student hostel. His brother, Ajay, was among the dead.
In total, 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground, mostly students and staff at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College, lost their lives.
Air India has expressed its “deep sorrow” and is cooperating fully with authorities. But families want answers, not condolences.
What Comes Next?
The AAIB’s full investigation may take months, even a year, to conclude. Until then, speculation will fill the silence left by the cockpit voice recorder.
What’s clear is this: something happened in that cockpit that shouldn’t have. Whether it was a momentary lapse, a systems failure, or a darker motive, one fact remains heartbreakingly certain, the passengers on AI171 never stood a chance once those engines were cut.
And the world may never truly know why.
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