A preliminary investigation into the tragic Air India crash that took the lives of 260 people last month has revealed alarming details regarding the final moments of the flight. The report indicates that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were flipped almost simultaneously from 'run' to 'cutoff', leading to a catastrophic starvation of fuel to the engines.

The sequence of events leading up to the crash was meticulously documented by Indian investigators and released on Saturday, July 12. Below is a detailed timeline of significant occurrences during the flight on June 12, with all times noted in GMT.

Timeline of Events

• 5:47 AM GMT (11:17 AM IST): Air India Dreamliner VT-ANB successfully landed in Ahmedabad after a flight from New Delhi, designated as AI423.
• 7:48:38 AM: The aircraft was seen departing from Bay 34 at Ahmedabad Airport.
• 7:55:15 AM: The aircraft requested and received taxi clearance from air traffic control.
• 7:56:15 AM: The aircraft commenced taxiing from the bay to Runway 23 via Taxiway R4, subsequently backtracking and lining up for take-off.
• 8:02:03 AM: Control of the aircraft was transferred from ground to tower control.
• 8:07:33 AM: The aircraft was granted take-off clearance by the air traffic control tower.
• 8:07:37 AM: The aircraft began its roll down the runway.
• 8:08:39 AM: The aircraft successfully lifted off the ground. The report noted that the aircraft’s air/ground sensors transitioned to air mode, confirming liftoff.
• 8:08:42 AM: The aircraft achieved its maximum airspeed of 180 knots. At this moment, the fuel cutoff switches for both Engine 1 and Engine 2 transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' within a second of each other, thus cutting off fuel supply to the engines.
• 8:08:47 AM: Both engines' performance metrics plummeted below minimum idle speed, leading to the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) hydraulic pump, which began supplying hydraulic power to maintain some level of control.
• 8:08:52 AM: The fuel cutoff switch for Engine 1 was restored to 'RUN'.
• 8:08:56 AM: The fuel cutoff switch for Engine 2 was also switched back to 'RUN'.
• 8:09:05 AM: A desperate 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY' call was transmitted by one of the pilots, indicating a dire emergency.
• 8:09:11 AM: Data recording from the flight ceased.
• 8:14:44 AM: Rescue and firefighting teams departed the airport premises to respond to the crash scene.

The cockpit voice recording revealed a troubling exchange between the pilots; one pilot questioned the other about the fuel cutoff, to which the other denied any wrongdoing, highlighting a potential miscommunication or malfunction during this critical phase. CCTV footage from the airport showed the RAT being deployed immediately after the aircraft began its ascent, a last-ditch effort to restore some level of control.

This preliminary report has raised significant concerns about the operational protocols and mechanical integrity of the aircraft involved. Investigations are ongoing, and further analyses are anticipated to determine the root causes of this disaster and prevent similar tragedies in the future.