Air India crash report reveals critical cockpit confusion

Investigators highlight unexplained fuel switch movement moments before deadly crash.
Text: Óscar Ontañón Docal
Published 2025-07-12

The latest news on India. A preliminary report released on Saturday by Indian accident investigators into last month's Air India crash suggests that cockpit confusion over the fuel cut-off switches may have led to the loss of engine power shortly after take-off.

Based on the findings from the AAIB report, a pilot was recorded asking his counterpart in the cockpit voice recording, "Why did you cut off?" The other pilot responded, "I did not do so. " The exchange, of course, indicates confusion over the unexpected fuel cut-off.

Despite experienced pilots at the controls, both switches were flipped almost simultaneously, starving the engines and triggering a fatal descent. No technical fault was assigned to Boeing or GE. Of course, it remains to be seen what's the final conclusion.

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