Investigators Reveal Cause of Tragic Air India Crash Near Ahmedabad, Claiming 138 Lives
Ahmedabad, India —In a devastating revelation, aviation investigators have confirmed that the tragic crash of an Air India domestic flight near Ahmedabad which claimed the lives of all 138 passengers and crew, was caused by the in-flight shutdown of both fuel switches leading to complete engine failure.
The incident has left families grieving, the nation in shock, and the aviation industry scrambling for answers. While questions remain, the preliminary findings from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have added a new, unsettling layer to the disaster.
The Fatal Flight
The flight, operating a routine domestic route from **Delhi to Ahmedabad**, departed under clear weather conditions with no known technical irregularities. Approximately 25 minutes before its scheduled landing, the aircraft abruptly lost altitude and crashed into an open field near **Kadi village**, just outside Ahmedabad.
Emergency crews arrived within minutes, but the wreckage was engulfed in flames. There were **no survivors**.
Eyewitnesses reported a low-flying aircraft making a sharp descent with both engines eerily silent — a detail that now aligns with the mechanical findings.
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Investigators Confirm Engine Failure Due to Fuel Cutoff
In a shocking development, the AAIB has confirmed that **both engines shut down mid-flight due to lack of fuel flow** — not because the aircraft ran out of fuel, but because the **fuel control switches were manually turned off**.
This detail came from the aircraft’s **Flight Data Recorder (FDR)** and **Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)**, both recovered from the crash site. The FDR showed a sudden and simultaneous stoppage of fuel supply to both engines. Moments later, the CVR captured an urgent exchange between the pilots:
> Pilot 1:“Why did you turn off the fuel switch?”
>Pilot 2“I didn’t.”
The CVR then went silent, indicating a loss of electrical systems following the double engine flameout.
Unanswered Questions in the Cockpit
While this audio confirms cockpit confusion in the final moments, investigators have not been able to definitively identify **which pilot said what**. Both voices are heard, but due to poor audio clarity and overlapping speech, the AAIB cannot determine whether the **captain** questioned the **co-pilot**, or vice versa.
This ambiguity leaves a critical gap in the narrative — who initiated the action that led to the engines shutting down? Was it a mistake, a miscommunication, or a deeper systems issue?
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Global Aviation Experts React
Aviation professionals worldwide are stunned. “No qualified pilot would ever deliberately shut off both fuel switches in flight — it’s aviation 101,” said **Captain Elisa Browning**, a senior flight instructor and safety analyst based in London.
Former FAA investigator **Anil Mehta** echoed this sentiment:
> “This is not a normal error. Either there was a severe misunderstanding in the cockpit or a possible fault that misled the pilots into believing fuel needed to be cut.”
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Scapegoating or Human Error?
The Indian Pilots Association (IPA) has strongly objected to the implication that pilot error is to blame, stating that conclusions are being drawn too quickly.
> “It is easy to blame those who cannot speak for themselves,” said IPA president **Captain Ravi Chatterjee**. “We demand that all factors be considered — including aircraft design, maintenance protocols, and automated systems.”
Some aviation insiders have speculated whether the aircraft’s **fuel management system** could have malfunctioned, triggering or misrepresenting a fuel emergency that prompted the pilots to shut off the switches.
Others argue the possibility of a misguided troubleshooting action under pressure.
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Boeing Faces Renewed Scrutiny
The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 737 a model that has seen its reputation bruised in recent years. While this particular crash has not been directly linked to Boeing’s design or systems, critics argue that the manufacturer should not be excluded from the investigation.
> “We’ve seen before how design flaws get buried under pilot blame,” said aviation analyst Sarah Kulkarni “Every aspect of this tragedy must be dissected — with no sacred cows.”
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Nation Mourns, Families Demand Justice
Families of the victims are demanding a thorough and transparent investigation. Candlelight vigils have been held across several cities, with mourners holding placards reading: “138 Lives. No Excuses. Tell Us the Truth.”
One grieving father, Mahesh Trivedi who lost his son and daughter-in-law in the crash, said, “We don’t want technical jargon. We want to know how two pilots in a modern plane ended up turning off the engines.”
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The Road Ahead
As the full investigation unfolds, the AAIB has promised to release further data, including maintenance records, crew history, and aircraft telemetry. Meanwhile, Air India has issued a statement expressing deep condolences and pledging full cooperation.
The truth behind the crash may take weeks or months to fully surface. But for now, what’s clear is this: 138 lives were lost in a tragedy that should never have happened — and someone, somewhere, must be held accountable.
