The Air India Flight 171 crash, in which shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, just seconds into the flight, both of the aircraft’s engine fuel control switches unexpectedly moved from the RUN position to CUTOFF. This cut off fuel to both engines, leading to a complete loss of power almost immediately after takeoff.
Inside the cockpit, the pilots were caught off guard. One asked why the engines had shut down, and the other replied that he hadn’t touched the switches. These fuel control levers are normally protected by mechanical locks to prevent accidental movement. They require a deliberate pull before they can be flipped, making it strange that both moved to CUTOFF at the same time.
The pilots quickly tried to fix the problem and returned the switches to the RUN position. However, at such low altitude and speed, the engines didn’t have enough time to restart. With no thrust, the plane lost lift and crashed into a nearby building.
The cause of the fuel switch movement is still under investigation. Authorities are considering whether it was human error, a mechanical fault, or a software issue. Until answers are found, checks on similar aircraft are underway.
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