Pilots' five harrowing words before Air India crash killed 260 people

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released the cockpit voice recorder transcript from Air India Flight AI171, which crashed 32 seconds after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12, killing 259 passengers and crew and 19 people on the ground. The final exchange between pilots, captured on the recorder, included one asking 'why did you cut off?' and the other denying responsibility. At 08:09:05 UTC, a pilot transmitted 'Thrust not achieved... falling... MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY' before the aircraft crashed into a building near the airport. Investigators determined that both engine fuel cutoff switches were toggled almost simultaneously, cutting fuel supply and causing engine failure. The switches require deliberate upward movement and protective guards to prevent accidental activation, making accidental deployment unlikely. Preliminary findings ruled out mechanical defects in the Boeing 787 or GE engines, with no liability assigned to either manufacturer. The aircraft carried 54,200kg of fuel, within allowable limits, and fuel samples were satisfactory. The plane reached 180 knots before the switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF within seconds. The AAIB report highlights the improbability of accidental fuel cutoff, raising questions about crew actions or potential procedural errors. No further details on crew qualifications or training were disclosed in the findings.