AI 171 Crash: Fuel Cutoff and a Fatal Plunge
In Focus Podcast | Published: July 17, 2025, 04:33 pm IST
What happened?
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On a June morning, Air India flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad en route to London.
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The aircraft was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a modern, long-haul jet.
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Less than a minute after takeoff, the plane crashed.
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Of the 261 people on board, 260 were killed, making it India’s deadliest air disaster in almost 30 years.
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Only one person survived.
Preliminary findings
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Investigators have determined that fuel supply to both engines was cut off just after takeoff.
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With no thrust from the engines, and at a very low altitude, the pilots were unable to recover the aircraft.
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The cause of the fuel cutoff — whether mechanical failure, human error, or sabotage — is still under investigation.
Why does this matter?
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The crash raises serious questions about aviation safety practices, maintenance standards, and pilot training in India.
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The incident is now prompting broader scrutiny of Air India’s operations and of regulatory oversight.
About the podcast
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Jagriti Chandra discusses:
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What the investigation has revealed so far.
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What is known about the final moments of the flight.
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The broader issues in India’s aviation sector exposed by the tragedy.
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