Air India Dreamliner’s Engine Stop: Chilling Final Minutes
What really happened in the cockpit of the Air India Dreamliner before it spiraled into chaos? The engines stopped just seconds after liftoff — but why? Was it a system failure, human error, or something far more mysterious? A leaked cockpit audio and sudden engine cutoff have sparked global concern. In this article, we dive into the chilling final minutes of the flight and uncover what might be the most shocking twist in recent aviation history.
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A Flight to London Turned Into a Nightmare in Ahmedabad
On the afternoon of June 12, a routine flight from Ahmedabad to London took a tragic turn no one saw coming. The aircraft in question — a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operated by Air India — had already completed a smooth domestic leg from Delhi earlier that morning.
But minutes after lifting off for its international journey, the flight was no longer heading for Heathrow — it was spiraling into crisis.
A cockpit audio recording from the doomed flight has surfaced, triggering intense speculation after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the captain might have shut off fuel supply to the engines. The aviation community in India, especially the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), has strongly refuted these claims, calling them premature and irresponsible.
Here’s a detailed, moment-by-moment account of what actually happened inside that cockpit — and why the world is watching this investigation so closely.
🎥 Video Credit: Times of India / YouTube
Original Title: ‘Why Did You Cut Off?’: Air India Pilots’ Last Words Before Mayday Call
Final Moments of Air India Flight AI 171: Timeline Breakdown
To grasp what really unfolded aboard Air India Flight AI 171, we need to look closely at the final few moments — second by second. Below is a simplified timeline that walks you through the critical events leading up to the sudden engine shutdown. Each time-stamped entry offers a deeper glimpse into the chaos that followed the Dreamliner’s lift-off.
| Time (IST) | Event Description |
|---|---|
| 11:17 AM | Dreamliner VT-ANB lands in Ahmedabad from New Delhi. Uneventful domestic leg. |
| 1:18:38 PM | Aircraft pushes back from Bay 34. Routine prep for London departure. |
| 1:25:15 PM | ATC clears aircraft to taxi to Runway 23. Standard routing followed. |
| 1:37:33 PM | Cleared for takeoff by tower control. Aircraft begins runway roll. |
| 1:38:39 PM | Wheels up. Aircraft reaches 180 knots — maximum takeoff speed. |
| 1:38:42 PM | Engines cut off. Fuel switches flipped from RUN to CUTOFF one second apart. |
In the cockpit voice recording, one pilot asks in confusion:
“Why did you cut off?”
To which the other responds,
“I didn’t.”
Investigators described the moment as deeply unsettling — the engines had effectively been starved of fuel just seconds after takeoff.
Emergency Indicator: Ram Air Turbine (RAT) Deploys
Airport CCTV footage captured the RAT (Ram Air Turbine) deploying. This emergency device kicks in only when the engines fail and the aircraft loses primary electrical and hydraulic power.
With the RAT out and both engines off, the aircraft began to lose altitude rapidly, struggling to maintain lift — all while still above airport grounds.
The story didn’t end when the engines went silent — that’s when the real fight began. In the seconds that followed, the cockpit turned into a battleground of instinct, training, and sheer desperation. What you’ll find below is of those final moments — a timeline that captures every second of that terrifying descent.
| Time (IST) | Event Description |
|---|---|
| 1:38:52 PM | Pilots attempt engine relight. Fuel switches moved to RUN. Engine 1 begins to recover. Engine 2 fails to stabilize despite fuel flow. |
| 1:39:05 PM | Pilot sends out chilling “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” distress call. ATC receives it, but the situation is already critical. |
| 1:39:11 PM | All flight data and cockpit audio go dark. Complete communication blackout. Aircraft systems stop responding. |
| 1:44:44 PM | Airport crash fire tenders dispatched. Emergency teams race beyond perimeter toward last known location. |
Media Storm: WSJ’s Report Sparks Outrage
Did the Captain Shut Off the Fuel?
The Wall Street Journal published a story implying that the pilot may have deliberately or accidentally switched off the fuel supply.
But the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) quickly rejected the claim.
- “This is a reckless accusation,” said FIP President CS Randhawa,
- “The AAIB preliminary report does not blame the pilot in any way.”
The FIP called the WSJ story “sensationalist and damaging to professional pilots worldwide”, warning against trial-by-media.
What Might Have Really Caused the Crash?
Investigators are exploring three main possibilities:
1. Unintentional Human Error
Could the fuel switches have been moved by mistake in a moment of distraction or mechanical misjudgment?
2. Cockpit System Design Flaw
Was the fuel cutoff switch too easily accessible? Could it have been activated accidentally due to design oversight?
3. Technical Malfunction
Could an electrical or software error have triggered the switches to revert automatically?
The answers remain uncertain. What is certain: both pilots attempted to restart the engines, and at least one engine showed signs of recovery — too late to make a difference.
Let’s demand answers — grounded in data, not blame. Stay informed.
Voices From the Aviation Community
A veteran Boeing 787 captain, speaking on condition of anonymity, said:
In 10,000 hours of flying, I’ve never seen a dual engine cutoff post-liftoff. No pilot in their right mind would ever do that deliberately. This could be a software issue, or a freak chain of failures.
3 Key Facts You Shouldn’t Miss:
- Both engines shut off just 3 seconds after liftoff — one after another.
- A pilot was heard saying, “Why did you cut off?” — met with denial.
- The relight failed for one engine. The crash happened within 90 seconds of takeoff.
Stop Blaming the Pilots — For Now
Flying a commercial aircraft isn’t like driving a car — it involves managing dozens of systems in real time, often under immense pressure.
When the unthinkable happens, pilots are the last line of defense, not the first to be blamed.
Until the final AAIB report is out, speculation is dangerous — and unfair.
Share this article — help spread awareness and promote safer skies.
Bigger Questions: Is This on Air India or Boeing?
This case may go beyond crew actions. Experts are now asking:
- Was pilot training adequate for this specific scenario?
- Are Boeing’s cockpit design and safety redundancies failing?
- Should fuel cutoff switches be made tamper-proof during takeoff?
These are questions that Boeing, Air India, and the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) must now answer.
Quick Summary: Key Facts to Know
- Both engines shut down 3 seconds after takeoff — fuel supply was cut.
- Voice recordings suggest confusion in the cockpit over who triggered it.
- RAT deployed as backup; aircraft began losing altitude rapidly.
- Emergency engine relight was attempted; only one engine responded.
- Pilots sent a “MAYDAY” before data ceased.
- WSJ report blames pilot action; Indian pilot body strongly denies it.
- AAIB report (so far) does not blame human error.
Aviation Terms You Should Know
1. FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control)
An automated engine management system that controls fuel flow, ignition, and relight — especially during emergencies.
A cockpit control that stops fuel supply to the engines. Flipping it shuts down engine thrust immediately.
A small emergency turbine that deploys mid-air to supply power if both engines fail.
5. MAYDAY
The highest-level distress signal in aviation, indicating immediate danger and need for help.
Stay Informed.
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FAQs: Air India Dreamliner Crash, Explained
1. Was it the pilot’s fault to switch off the fuel?
The Wall Street Journal raised this possibility, but India’s aviation authorities and the pilot union have not confirmed any such conclusion. The matter is still under deep investigation and no official blame has been assigned to the crew at this stage.
2. What is the purpose of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)?
The RAT is a backup emergency power source. When both engines fail, the RAT deploys automatically to generate enough hydraulic and electrical power to keep basic flight systems operational.
3. Were both engines shut off at the same time?
Yes, but with a strange detail — the fuel cutoff for Engine 1 and Engine 2 occurred just one second apart. This timing is highly unusual and is a key focus of the ongoing investigation.
4. Why did one engine fail to restart?
Engine 1 showed signs of recovery. However, Engine 2 could not regain its core speed despite multiple fuel reintroductions. The cause could be mechanical, systemic, or related to restart sequencing — still under investigation.
5. Could this happen on other Boeing 787s?
Every incident like this triggers a broader safety review. While the Boeing 787 is widely regarded as reliable, if a systemic issue is found, global protocols and training will be updated to prevent recurrence across the fleet.
In case of this incident being due to either design or system failure, then Boeing might have to issue new safety standards world wide.
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Final Thoughts
This is not the story of the failure of Air India Flight AI171 but how do we react to failure. Be it a human error, technical error or rather, something much bigger; answers could only be based on facts and not assumptions. There is loss of lives, broken families and a nation awaiting the truth behind the wreckage. It is our duty to all the souls on board to seek accountability with heart and not hatred and to argue the facts not fear in shaping the future of aviation.
The information presented in this article is based on publicly available data, news sources, and preliminary investigation findings. TN HEADLINES24 is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of third-party reports or statements cited herein. All conclusions and interpretations are intended for informational purposes only and do not constitute official findings or legal claims.
