Page Description
A fatal crash triggered by a misunderstood fuel switch. Explore how system design, communication failures, and cockpit confusion led to disaster.
Een schakelaar bedoeld om een motor veilig uit te schakelen werd een stille vernietiger.
Op 12 juni 2025 stortte Air India-vlucht 171 enkele seconden na het opstijgen neer bij Ahmedabad. Van de 242 mensen aan boord overleefde slechts één persoon. 19 mensen op de grond kwamen ook om het leven, wat het totaal aantal slachtoffers op 260 brengt.
Onderzoekers ontdekten dat beide brandstofschakelaars van de motoren waren uitgeschakeld — en hoewel een van de piloten nog probeerde ze opnieuw te activeren, kwam die poging te laat. De cockpitopnames onthulden de paniek en verwarring op het moment dat de bemanning besefte wat er mis was gegaan. Een veiligheidssysteem werd fataal door miscommunicatie en onduidelijke vormgeving.
Dit was geen op zichzelf staand technisch defect — maar een catastrofale keten van fouten in cockpitontwerp, opleiding en menselijke interactie. Op deze pagina onderzoeken we hoe één zwakke schakel in een complex systeem kan leiden tot volledige instorting — en waarom elk niveau, van techniek tot training, kritisch moet worden bekeken.
A switch meant to shut down failed engines became a silent destroyer.
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171 crashed just seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad. All but one of the 242 people on board were killed, along with 19 individuals on the ground, resulting in 260 casualties in total The Washington Post+15Wikipedia+15Encyclopedia Britannica+15.
Investigators discovered that both engine fuel control switches had been turned off — and though one pilot tried to reactivate them, it was tragically too late Wikipedia+11The Guardian+11People.com+11. The voices in the cockpit captured the confusion as the crew realized what had happened, turning a safety tool into a deadly malfunction The Week+12The Guardian+12People.com+12.
This was not a lone technical glitch — but a catastrophic breakdown in cockpit design, training, and communication. Here, we examine how one hidden failure point can unravel an entire system — and how every layer from hardware to human interaction must be scrutinized.
Air India Crash | Boeing Fuel Control Switch Error Explained #airindiacrash
14 jul 2025 UNITED STATES
Three Seconds to Disaster”:
The Story Behind Air India Flight AI 117Tragic Dual Engine Failure
On what began as an ordinary day, Air India Flight AI117 prepared for takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport.
The skies were clear, the aircraft—well-maintained and staffed by experienced pilots—was ready for its scheduled journey. Everything appeared routine. But within seconds of liftoff, something unthinkable happened.
A Smooth Takeoff Turns Sudden
At 08:08 G M T, the aircraft began its takeoff roll down the runway, accelerating steadily.
As the nose lifted and the wheels left the ground, the plane climbed with expected power.
By the third second after liftoff, it had reached a speed of around 180 knots—typical and well within safe parameters.
But right at that moment—just three seconds into the flight—the normalcy ended.
A Critical, Sudden Action
In the cockpit, both pilots were carrying out post-takeoff procedures when, inexplicably, a critical error occurred.
The fuel control switches for Engine 1 and Engine 2—the controls that allow fuel to flow to the engines—were moved from RUN to CUTOFF, almost simultaneously.
Within about one second, both switches had been thrown, one after the other. This action abruptly severed the fuel supply to both engines.
It wasn’t a mechanical fault. It wasn’t turbulence. It wasn’t a system glitch. Something, or someone, had physically moved both switches.
“Why Did You Cut Off?”
In those next few moments, the cockpit voice recorder captured a tense and confused exchange between the pilots.
“Why did you cut off?” one asked, alarm in his voice.
“I didn’t,” came the immediate reply.
This short but chilling dialogue reveals a moment of sheer disbelief. Neither pilot appeared to understand what had just occurred.
Neither had knowingly taken the action that caused both engines to shut down in mid-air—just seconds into the flight.
The Engines Wind Down
With no fuel flowing, the aircraft’s engines began winding down rapidly. The engine speeds—monitored as N1 and N2—dropped sharply.
The aircraft, now without thrust, was essentially gliding. But it wasn’t designed to glide, especially not this soon after takeoff, and especially not at low altitude.
Almost immediately, the aircraft’s emergency backup system kicked in.
The Ram Air Turbine a small wind-powered device used to generate emergency hydraulic and electrical power—deployed automatically.
This helped maintain minimal control and instrumentation, but couldn’t restart the engines or stop the descent.
Air India 171: Why Did The Fuel Cut-off Switch Get Moved?
14 jul 2025
The response to our first video on the Air India 171 incident has been overwhelming. With over 30,000 comments, the conversation has raised even more critical questions. In this second installment of Ask the Captain, we continue to address the most pressing and thoughtful inquiries we’ve received from you.
This episode is a deep dive into the human element of this tragedy, from the pilots in the cockpit to the workers on the factory floor. Join us as Captain Steeeve provides his professional analysis.
Our commitment remains to honor the facts from the preliminary report while exploring the broader questions of industry culture, aircraft design, and human factors that you have raised. Thank you for keeping this vital conversation going.
00:00 – Intro: Why Were the Fuel Switches Turned Off?
00:25 – Welcome to Ask the Captain: Your Questions Answered
00:42 – Was This a Deliberate Act by a Pilot?
01:04 – Why Cut the Fuel and Then Deny It?
01:48 – What Can a Co-Pilot Do in a Sudden Betrayal?
02:26 – Why Does the Computer Allow Fuel Cutoff at Low Altitude?
02:55 – Should Fuel Switches Be a Two-Person Action?
03:45 – Could a Maintenance “Jumper Plug” Be the Cause?
04:25 – What’s the Imminent Crash Procedure in This Jet?
05:14 – Why Should We Trust Boeing After the 737 MAX?
06:27 – A Heartfelt Message from a Boeing Worker
07:54 – Are Pilots Afraid to Seek Mental Health Care?
08:45 – The Pressure on Pilots Who Can’t Afford a Day Off
09:52 – Does “Human Error” Help Airlines Get Insurance?
10:01 – Will This Speed Up the Move to AI-Controlled Jets?
10:28 – Why Aren’t Cockpit Cameras Mandatory?
11:14 – Final Thoughts & The Next Installment
For business inquiries email us at: captainsteeeve@wearebv.com
For press or general questions: peter@541co.com
Disclaimer: Captain Steeeve is not a spokesperson for any airline or aviation authority. The opinions expressed in this video are solely his own and are based on his experience as a professional pilot. This analysis is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as an official statement from any airline, regulatory agency, or aviation organization.
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1 Air India aircraft lost power after fuel cutoff
©Reuters
An investigation is underway into the Air India plane bound for London Gatwick that crashed on June 12, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport in India, killing 241 of the 242 people on board, along with 33 individuals on the ground.
A preliminary report by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, obtained by CNN, reveals that a disruption in fuel supply to the engines caused the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to lose power and crash.
According to the report, the fuel control switches for both engines were moved from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ just seconds apart, cutting off fuel at a speed of 180 knots. Data from the black box recorders showed one pilot questioning the other about the unexpected shutdown — to which the second pilot replied that he had not done it.
The crew reversed the switches and attempted to restart the engines, but the aircraft had already begun to lose altitude.
In the final moments captured on the cockpit voice recorder, one of the pilots shouts “MAYDAY” as they attempt to restart the engines. Air traffic control, however, received no further communication and watched the plane crash in the distance.
The report has not yet determined whether the switches were flipped intentionally or as the result of a mechanical malfunction.
While air travel remains one of the safest forms of transportation, the crash of Air India 171 is a stark reminder that zero risk does not exist.
Despite ever-advancing technology, the long list of aviation disasters in commercial history continues to confront us with grim truths. Few survive such accidents — the destructive force of a plane crash leaves little room for chance. Tragically, some of the most horrifying air disasters in history have happened without warning and in mere seconds.
Toestel Air India verloor vermogen na brandstofuitval
©Reuters
Er wordt onderzoek gedaan naar het Air India vliegtuig met bestemming Londen Gatwick dat op 12 juni neerstortte, direct na het opstijgen vanaf Ahmedabad Airport in India, waarbij op één na alle 242 mensen aan boord en 33 op de grond omkwamen. Uit een voorlopig rapport van het Indiase Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, in handen van CNN, blijkt dat een onderbreking in de brandstoftoevoer naar de motoren de oorzaak was dat de Boeing 787 Dreamliner vermogen verloor en neerstortte.
Volgens het rapport werden de brandstofschakelaars van beide motoren slechts enkele seconden na elkaar omgedraaid van de stand ‘RUN’ naar ‘CUTOFF’, waardoor de motoren geen brandstof meer kregen toen het vliegtuig 180 knopen bereikte. Uit gegevens van de black box recorders bleek dat de ene piloot de andere ondervroeg over de onverwachte uitschakeling, waarop de tweede antwoordde dat hij het niet had gedaan.
De bemanning zette de schakelaars om en probeerde de motoren te herstarten, maar het vliegtuig begon al hoogte te verliezen.
In de laatste momenten die zijn opgenomen op de cockpit voice recorder, roept een van de piloten ‘MAYDAY’ terwijl de motoren opnieuw proberen te starten. De luchtverkeersleiding kreeg echter geen reactie meer en zag het vliegtuig in de verte neerstorten.
In het rapport is nog niet vastgesteld of de brandstofschakelaar opzettelijk werd omgedraaid of dat dit het gevolg was van een mechanisch defect.
Ondanks het feit dat vliegtuigen een van de veiligste vormen van transport zijn, herinnert de crash van Air India ons er duidelijk aan dat een nulrisico onmogelijk is. Zelfs met de steeds beter wordende technologie, blijven de lange lijst van vliegtuigrampen in de annalen van de commerciële luchtvaart ons met grimmige herinneringen confronteren. Helaas overleven maar weinigen een vliegtuigongeluk, zo destructief is zo’n gebeurtenis. En er zijn een aantal afschuwelijke vliegtuigongelukken geweest over de hele wereld.
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