🚨 Air India Flight 171 Crash: What Exactly Happened Inside the Cockpit on June 12?

A horrifying Air India Flight 171 crash, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, has sparked national grief—and now, fresh controversy.

A cockpit voice recording (CVR) obtained in the early investigation reveals that the fuel supply to both engines may have been manually cut off, causing dual engine failure mere seconds after liftoff. However, this startling claim—initially reported by the Wall Street Journal—has drawn sharp criticism from India’s top pilots’ association.

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✈️ Air India Flight 171 crash- A Timeline of Chaos in the Sky

A blow-by-blow account based on AAIB’s preliminary report reveals how the tragedy unfolded:

• 1:38:39 PM IST – Aircraft lifted off successfully.
• 1:38:42 PM IST – Aircraft reached max speed (180 knots). Suddenly, both Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches were activated, within 1 second of each other.
• 1:38:43–1:38:47 – Engines begin spooling down. Hydraulic systems switch to backup Ram Air Turbine.
• 1:38:52–1:38:56 – Both fuel cutoff switches are toggled back to RUN, prompting auto-relight sequences.
• 1:39:05 – A pilot issues a chilling “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” call.
• 1:39:11 – Data recording ceases.
• 1:44:44 – Emergency response reaches the crash site, just beyond the airport boundary wall.

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🔥 Cockpit Confusion or System Glitch?

A key audio clip from the CVR includes a pilot asking, “Why did you cut off?”—to which the other pilot reportedly responds, “I did not do so.” This suggests either accidental or automated fuel cutoff, though investigators haven’t ruled out a mechanical anomaly or procedural confusion.

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🛑 Pilots Union Pushes Back

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) denounced the WSJ report of Air India Flight 171 crash, stating that blame should not be assigned prematurely. FIP President CS Randhawa said:

“This is not the time to scapegoat. The AAIB report has not concluded pilot error. Further investigation is essential.”

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💼 What This Means for the Aviation Industry

This Air India Flight 171 crash has reignited questions over:

• The complexity of automated fuel systems in modern jets.
• Adequate pilot training on emergency fuel control protocols.
• The role of AI-powered monitoring in cockpit error prevention.

Boeing is reportedly cooperating with Indian authorities and has dispatched a technical team to assist in diagnostics of FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) systems.

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🧭 Final Thoughts

The June 12 crash is not only a technical mystery but a wake-up call for India’s aviation sector. As families await answers and global experts weigh in, one truth is clear: the line between human error and system failure needs deeper scrutiny.

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