Recovered cockpit voice recordings from the recent Air India crash, which resulted in the loss of 260 lives, have revealed confusion between the pilots shortly after takeoff. The incident occurred on June 12, 2025, involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad airport, bound for London. Remarkably, one passenger survived the crash.
A preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) indicates that the aircraft's engines lost fuel due to an abrupt switch from "run" to "cutoff" within moments of takeoff. During this critical time, one pilot questioned the other about the switch being engaged, to which the response was that it had not been done deliberately. The report did not specify which pilot made these remarks.
Investigators found that the fuel control switches were in the "run" position at the crash site, suggesting that the engines had attempted to relight but were unable to compensate for the rapid loss of thrust. The switch design, which allows for the engines to be shut down in emergencies, has come under scrutiny. Notably, a 2019 advisory from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) highlighted a potential issue with similar Boeing 737 switches, yet it was not deemed severe enough to necessitate mandatory inspections or repairs.
In the wake of the crash, Air India has expressed its commitment to cooperating with the investigation and providing support to the affected families. The AAIB plans to release a more comprehensive report within the next year, while Boeing has not yet commented on the findings.