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Ahmedabad Plane Crash: 15 Pages Report Reveals Both Engines Stopped

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
  • Jul 12, 2025
  • 518

A month after the Ahmedabad plane crash, the preliminary investigation report has arrived. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) made public a 15-page report on July 12. According to the preliminary investigation, the accident happened due to both the engines of the plane shutting down.

Soon after takeoff, both engines shut down one by one. During this time, cockpit recordings show that one pilot asked the other, "Have you shut down the engine?" The other replied, "No."

On June 12, flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London crashed into a medical hostel building shortly after takeoff. 270 people were killed, including 241 passengers and crew members. Only one passenger survived the accident.

What came out in the investigation, know in question-answer format:

Q: What happened in the air? 

Answer: The report said that just seconds after takeoff, both engines shut down in midair - the fuel cutoff switches changed from RUN (engine on) to CUTOFF (engine off) in quick succession in just one second. The engines stopped receiving fuel.

Question: What did the pilots discuss? 

Answer: Cockpit audio has also emerged in which one pilot asked, "Why did you shut down (the engine)?" The other replied, "I didn't"


Question: Was an attempt made to restart the engine? 

Answer:The pilots attempted to restart the engines. N1, or Engine 1, started up somewhat, but Engine 2 failed to start before the crash. The plane had been in the air for only 32 seconds.

Question: Was there any problem with the fuel? 

Answer: Fuel testing revealed that there was no problem with the fuel. The thrust levers were completely broken but the black box showed that the takeoff thrust was on at the time, which indicates a disconnection. The power of the aircraft's engine is controlled through the thrust levers.

Question: Was there any problem of bird hitting? 

Answer: Flap setting (5 degrees) and gear (down) were normal for takeoff. There were no bird hit issues.

Question: What was the weather like at the time of the accident?

Answer:The sky was completely clear. Visibility was also good. There was no storm like situation.

Question: Was the pilot medically fit? 

Answer: Both the pilots were medically fit. They did not have any problems. The pilot in command had 15 thousand hours of flying experience and the co-pilot had 3400 hours of flying experience.

Question: Was any advisory issued to the airline company during the investigation?

Answer:The report said that this is a preliminary investigation and it is still ongoing. At present, no advisory is being issued to Boeing Aircraft Company or engine manufacturer General Electric (GE).

The report also said that as soon as the engine was shut down, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) opened. 

It is a small propeller-like device. It rotates at the speed of wind and produces electricity and hydraulic power. 

Especially when the main power of the aircraft is cut or the hydraulic system fails. RAT helps the aircraft to keep at least the navigation and control system operational to some extent.