Ahmedabad Air India Crash: Preliminary Report Reveals Shocking Cause, Prompts Global Aviation Response

On June 12, 2025, tragedy struck at Ahmedabad Airport when an Air India flight crashed just seconds after takeoff, claiming the lives of 260 people. Now, a month later, the preliminary investigation report has sent shockwaves through the global aviation industry.

According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), both engines of the flight shut down immediately after takeoff. The report reveals that both fuel control switches, which should have remained in the “run” position, were simultaneously moved to “cut-off,” causing the aircraft to lose power and crash.

Cockpit voice recordings captured the confusion among the pilots. One pilot is heard asking in shock, “Why did you cut the fuel?” to which the other replied, “I didn’t do it.” This has raised questions about whether the tragedy was caused by human error, technical failure, or something else entirely.

The report has prompted airlines worldwide to take urgent action. Etihad Airways in the UAE has issued strict instructions to its pilots to exercise extreme caution with fuel switches, especially on Boeing 787 aircraft. The airline has also ordered all engineers to inspect the entire fuel locking mechanism to ensure it is functioning correctly. Pilots have been advised not to keep any objects near the cockpit controls that could accidentally move the switches.

South Korea has also responded swiftly, with the government ordering a comprehensive inspection of fuel control switches on all Boeing aircraft operated by its airlines. This move is based on an earlier FAA advisory from 2018, which had already raised concerns about the locking mechanisms of fuel switches on certain Boeing models.

Many are now questioning whether the FAA and Boeing ignored these risks. The FAA has maintained that there is no unsafe condition and has not issued a major alert. However, the scale of the response from airlines and national authorities suggests otherwise.

The answers to these questions are now lost with the 260 lives that will never return home.

In India, following the AAIB’s preliminary findings, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a major directive, mandating immediate inspection of engine fuel switches on all Indian-registered flights. The deadline to complete these inspections is July 21, 2025.

This tragedy raises a critical question for the aviation industry: Will we continue to rely solely on systems, or will we once again prioritize human awareness and caution? After all, it took just one switch—and a few seconds—for an entire aircraft to fall silent, and for 260 lives to be lost forever.