About a month after the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight 171, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is poised to release its preliminary report, with a key focus on the cockpit’s fuel control switches. Investigators, supported by international agencies including the NTSB, FAA, Boeing, and GE Aerospace, have ruled out engine failure, fuel contamination, flap errors, and mechanical issues with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

Data from the flight recorders show that shortly after takeoff, both engine thrusts were lost suggesting that pilots may have inadvertently toggled the critical fuel control switches from “RUN” to “CUTOFF”. These switches are guarded and require deliberate action to operate, which has drawn attention to whether the movement was accidental or intentional. This situation echoes the 1989 British Midland crash, where a similar mistake led to a wrong engine shutdown.

Compounding the mystery, CCTV footage shows the aircraft shortly after liftoff, followed by the deployment of the emergency Ram Air Turbine (RAT), signalling a sudden loss of both main generators. Despite extensive data collection, investigators haven’t yet confirmed motive or intent, though all possible causes are being considered.

The AAIB report, expected soon, will reveal more insight into what could have led to the first fatal accident involving the Dreamliner. Until then, the movement of those fuel control switches remains central to understanding the tragedy.