Air India Plane Crash:Boeing has issued a formal statement pledging full support to the ongoing investigation into the June 12 Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, in which 241 passengers and crew aboard Flight AI171, along with 30 people on the ground, lost their lives. The response came hours after India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its 15-page preliminary report pointing to mid-air fuel cutoff as the likely trigger for the twin engine failure.
The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff, and the investigation has now zeroed in on a crucial technical failure—both engines were starved of fuel due to the fuel cutoff switches transitioning mid-flight.
Boeing and Air India Issue Condolences, Extend Support
In a statement to NDTV, Boeing said, “Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected on the ground in Ahmedabad. We continue to support the investigation and our customer.” The company emphasized its compliance with Annex 13 of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization protocol, which governs international air crash investigations.
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Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg added, “I have spoken with Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.”
Air India also acknowledged the AAIB report and extended condolences, stating: “We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses.” The Tata-owned airline reiterated its commitment to the families of the victims, saying it “continues to mourn the losses and stands in solidarity with the bereaved.”
Preliminary Report: Engines Starved of Fuel Mid-Air
According to the AAIB report, both fuel switches transitioned from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ during the aircraft’s initial climb, causing the engines to lose thrust. CCTV footage confirmed deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency system triggered by total power loss, which activated before the aircraft even crossed the airport’s perimeter wall.
The black box data further revealed that while the switches were later moved back to the RUN position, only Engine 1 showed signs of temporary recovery—Engine 2 failed to respond.
The cause behind the unexpected fuel cutoff remains under investigation, but Boeing has yet to receive any operational advisories, as the AAIB continues to analyze quarantined components from the crash site.
