NEW DELHI, July 12 – A preliminary investigation into the fatal crash of Air India Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad has revealed that both fuel switches feeding the plane’s engines were cut off seconds after take-off, leading to a tragic crash and raising questions about possible human error in the cockpit.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report said the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner reached a speed of 180 knots before the Engine 1 and 2 fuel switches were turned from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within one second of each other. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot questioning the other about the shutdown, who replied, “I didn’t do it.”

The crash occurred on June 12, killing 260 people, including 241 of the 242 onboard. The aircraft struck a medical college hostel shortly after liftoff. The co-pilot was flying the aircraft at the time, with the captain monitoring.

Fuel quality was found satisfactory, and both engines have been quarantined for further examination. No immediate safety recommendations have been issued for other Boeing 787-8 or GE GEnx-1B engine operators.

Air India and Boeing stated they are fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.