AAIB releases preliminary report on Air India AI171 crash at Ahmedabad
On 12 July 2025, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released its preliminary report on the 12 June crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 (VT-ANB), at Ahmedabad.
Summary
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation released in New Delhi on 12 July 2025 its preliminary report on the crash of Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 (VT-ANB) bound for London Gatwick, at Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025 at 13:39 IST. According to the report, the aircraft reached a maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots at about 08:08:42 UTC, and immediately thereafter the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF one after another with a gap of one second. The switches were moved back from CUTOFF to RUN at about 08:08:52 and 08:08:56 UTC; Engine 1 began to recover, while Engine 2 relit but could not arrest core speed deceleration. A MAYDAY call was made at about 08:09:05 UTC, and the aircraft struck the BJ Medical College hostel 0.9 NM from the end of Runway 23. The report says fuel samples from the bowsers and tanks were found satisfactory, no significant bird activity was seen, and, at this stage, there are no recommended actions for B787-8 or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers. The report states that the information is preliminary and subject to change, and the investigation is continuing.
Key facts
- Accident
- 12 June 2025, 0809 UTC (13:39 IST), Ahmedabad; AI171 Ahmedabad–London Gatwick; B787-8 VT-ANB
- On board
- 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, 2 flight crew
- Fatalities (report table)
- Crew 12, passengers 229, others 19; one passenger seriously injured
- Fuel switches
- Both moved RUN→CUTOFF ~1 s apart right after 180 kt (08:08:42 UTC); back to RUN at 08:08:52 and 08:08:56 UTC
- Other findings
- RAT deployed in initial climb; flaps at 5° (normal take-off); no significant bird activity; fuel samples satisfactory
- Recommendations
- None at this stage for B787-8 / GE GEnx-1B operators and manufacturers
- Framework (static)
- ICAO Annex 13; Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017; NTSB (USA) as State of Design & Manufacture
Practice MCQs 5 questions
According to the AAIB preliminary report on AI171, what happened to both engines' fuel cutoff switches immediately after the aircraft reached 180 knots?
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Correct answer: B — They moved from RUN to CUTOFF one after another, one second apart
AAIB preliminary report: immediately after 180 knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF one after another with a time gap of 01 sec.
Air India flight AI171, which crashed at Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025, was bound for which airport?
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Correct answer: D — London Gatwick
AAIB preliminary report: the aircraft was operating Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick; intended landing place London Gatwick Airport (EGKK).
Consider the following statements about the AAIB preliminary report on AI171: 1. Fuel samples taken from the bowsers and tanks used to refuel the aircraft were found satisfactory at the DGCA lab. 2. The report issued immediate recommended actions to all B787-8 operators. 3. Significant bird activity was observed in the vicinity of the flight path. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only statement 1 is correct. The report says there are no recommended actions at this stage to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B operators and manufacturers, and that no significant bird activity was observed.
The AAIB preliminary report on AI171 states that it was prepared in accordance with which Annex to the Convention on International Civil Aviation?
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Correct answer: C — Annex 13
AAIB preliminary report foreword: prepared in accordance with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation; the initial notification was also sent as per ICAO Annex 13.
Which agency represented the State of Design and Manufacture in the AI171 investigation, according to the AAIB preliminary report?
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Correct answer: A — National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), USA
AAIB preliminary report: the initial notification was sent to the NTSB, USA, which represented the State of Design & Manufacture; NTSB appointed an Accredited Representative with advisers from Boeing, GE and the FAA.