Overview

• The AAIB’s 15-page preliminary report shows both engine fuel-control switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF within one second, causing the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to lose thrust seconds after takeoff.
• Investigators cited a non-mandatory 2018 FAA advisory on fuel-switch locking mechanisms but issued no safety actions for Boeing 787-8 or GE GEnx-1B operators while the probe remains open.
• Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking why the fuel was cut off and the other denying responsibility, intensifying the debate over mechanical failure versus pilot intervention.
• Victims’ families and opposition figures have criticised the report as vague and lacking detail, pressing for transparency ahead of the final AAIB report due by mid-2026.
• International and domestic media clashed over BBC headlines suggesting pilot error, prompting government ministers to defend the AAIB’s autonomy and pledge action once the full investigation concludes.