Cockpit audio suggests captain cut fuel before Air India 787 crash: WSJ
A cockpit voice recording from the Air India Boeing 787-8 that crashed last month in Ahmedabad, India, appears to indicate that the captain may have cut off the aircraft’s fuel supply moments after takeoff, The Wall Street Journal reported on July 16, 2025, citing sources familiar with the preliminary US review.
The accident, which took place on June 12, 2025, killed 260 people, including 241 of the 242 on board and 19 on the ground. The aircraft, operating as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London-Gatwick (LGW), crashed into a residential area less than a mile from the runway after both engines lost power.
Exchange in the cockpit
According to the WSJ, the first officer, who was the pilot flying, asked the captain why he had moved the fuel control switches to the “cutoff” position shortly after takeoff. The captain reportedly replied that he had not done so.
The cockpit exchange aligns with preliminary findings released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on July 12, 2025, which confirmed that both engine fuel switches transitioned from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within a second of each other during the initial climb. However, the AAIB report did not attribute the action to any crew member.
The captain, 56, had over 15,600 flight hours (8,500 on the 787), while the first officer, 32, had 3,400 hours in total.
Sources told WSJ that the first officer would likely have been too focused on flying the aircraft to manually cut fuel at that critical phase of flight.
Attempts to recover power
Flight data indicates the switches were returned to “RUN” within 10 seconds, triggering the 787’s automatic restart logic. One engine briefly showed signs of recovery, but the aircraft had already slowed and descended to an unrecoverable state. The Ram Air Turbine deployed as hydraulic and electrical power failed.
Security camera footage captured the RAT deployment almost immediately after liftoff, signaling rapid engine power loss. The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of around 650 feet before descending and striking multiple buildings near BJ Medical College.
Ongoing investigation
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said in an internal memo that the preliminary report had identified no mechanical or maintenance-related failures. The AAIB has issued no safety recommendations, and US and European regulators have reiterated confidence in Boeing’s fuel switch locking mechanisms. A final report is expected within 12 months.
The crash has reignited debate over installing cockpit video recorders in commercial aircraft. Investigators have said such footage could have clarified the crew’s actions during Flight AI171’s final seconds. The post Cockpit audio suggests captain cut fuel before Air India 787 crash: WSJ appeared first on AeroTime.
A cockpit voice recording from the Air India Boeing 787-8 that crashed last month in Ahmedabad, India, appears…
The post Cockpit audio suggests captain cut fuel before Air India 787 crash: WSJ appeared first on AeroTime.