NEW DELHI, July 12 (TIWN): Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary report on the June 12, 2025 London-bound Air India flight’s crash says the fuel was cut off before the deadly crash occurred.

The report was revealed on Saturday early morning hours.

The devastating Air India flight crash claimed 270 lives in Ahmedabad, with one miraculous survivor sustaining minor injuries. The London-bound flight's preliminary report, released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), reveals a chilling sequence of events.

The cockpit audio captures a pilot's query, "Why did you cut off?" to which the copilot replied, "I didn't cut off fuel." This exchange turned out to be the last communication between the pilots.

The investigation uncovered that both engines shut down mid-air within seconds after takeoff due to fuel cutoff switches being moved from RUN to CUTOFF in rapid succession. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed automatically to provide emergency hydraulic power as the engines lost power.

Key findings from the 15-page AAIB report include:

- The fuel supply to the engines was cut off, resulting in a catastrophic failure.
- The pilots attempted to restart the engine, with partial success in engine 1 but failure in engine 2 before impact.
- The aircraft's brief airborne period lasted only 32 seconds, crashing 0.9 NM from the runway into a hostel.
- Thrust levers were found at idle, but the black box data indicates takeoff thrust was still engaged, suggesting a disconnect or failure.
- Fuel samples tested clean, with no contamination from refueling sources.
- Normal takeoff settings were confirmed, with flap setting at 5 degrees and gear down.
- Weather conditions were favorable, with clear skies, good visibility, and light winds.

The AAIB report also highlights:

- The pilots' credentials were in order, with both being medically fit, rested, and having adequate experience on the aircraft type.
- No immediate evidence of sabotage was found, although a known FAA advisory on a possible fuel switch flaw existed, which Air India had not addressed.
- The aircraft was within weight and balance limits, with no dangerous goods onboard.