Overview

• The AAIB’s interim report notes that both engines’ fuel supply regulators shifted to cutoff almost simultaneously shortly after takeoff, cutting thrust and leading to the crash.
• The report cites a 2018 FAA advisory recommending checks of the regulators’ locking feature—a nonmandatory measure that Air India did not perform.
• Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking why the fuel was cut off and the other denying responsibility, fueling debate over intentional or accidental switch actuation.
• Aviation experts are split, with some suggesting a defect in the locking feature could allow unintended shutdowns and others arguing the switches are safeguarded against accidental movement.
• Air India’s CEO and pilot unions have urged restraint, emphasizing that no definitive cause or safety directives have been issued and that the investigation remains ongoing pending full black-box analysis.