The central government informed Parliament on Wednesday that investigators found no abnormality in the fuel control switch locking mechanism of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The accident on June 12, 2025, claimed 260 lives, including passengers, crew and people on the ground.
Civil Aviation Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol told the Rajya Sabha that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation had ordered manufacturer-level testing of the fuel control switch locking mechanism in Seattle as part of continued airworthiness checks. A detailed examination of the switch, including the structural integrity of its locking detents, revealed no abnormality, he said in a written reply to questions from Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisham.
Inspection of the complete thrust control module continues at the manufacturer’s facility in Seattle.
Responding to concerns about the pace of the inquiry, the minister rejected claims that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau had delayed its final report. He stated there was no delay and stressed that major accident investigations cannot follow a fixed timetable. The process depends on multiple factors and evolves as new information emerges.
“All probable causes and contributing factors leading to the accident are being investigated,” Mohol said. The government confirmed that the final report, containing the full findings, will be published on the bureau’s website once the probe is complete. No specific release date has been set.
Air India flight AI-171, bound for London, crashed moments after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. The aircraft struck a medical college hostel complex. Of those on board, 241 died and one passenger survived; 19 people on the ground also lost their lives. The disaster ranks among India’s deadliest recent aviation accidents.
A preliminary report issued last year established that the fuel control switches on both engines moved from the “RUN” to the “CUTOFF” position shortly after takeoff, cutting fuel supply and causing both engines to shut down. A cockpit voice recording captured one pilot asking why the switches had been moved and the other denying any such action. The finding left open questions about whether the switches were moved deliberately or whether a technical problem played a role.
The government has reiterated that the ongoing investigation will examine every possible cause and contributing factor before the final report is released.