The preliminary investigation into the Air India Flight 171 crash, which killed 260, reveals that both fuel switches were abruptly cut off seconds after takeoff, causing engine failure. Cockpit voice recordings capture a pilot questioning the cut-off, but the speaker remains unidentified. While the switches were reset, the plane crashed after less than 40 seconds. Investigators are analyzing the cockpit voice recorder and wreckage, focusing on whether the fuel switch cut-off was accidental or intentional. The investigation includes experts from various agencies, including Boeing and the NTSB, and highlights a potential issue with fuel switch design, noted in a 2018 FAA bulletin.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.