Scientists Finally Solved The Air India 171 Crash Mystery, And It's Not What You Think...

This video explores the catastrophic disaster of Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which went down shortly after departure from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The airplane, bound for London Gatwick, took off but lost thrust from both engines just seconds later, crashing into a medical student hostel and killing 260 people—241 onboard and 19 on the ground—while miraculously yielding one survivor. Drawing on the preliminary report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), we break out what went wrong. Both engine fuel-control switches were located in the CUTOFF position rather than RUN, indicating that fuel flow was intentionally or unintentionally turned off shortly after the aircraft achieved takeoff speed. Although the engines were restarted, there was insufficient altitude or time to restore thrust. A cockpit recording shows one pilot asking the other why the fuel had been stopped, only to be met with denial. We look at the terror that ensued when the ram air turbine (RAT) deployed, indicating a complete loss of engine power, and how, despite fast attempts to restart the engines, the aircraft was unable to rise safely. Following that, we will discuss the immediate aftermath. The crash rekindled requests for better cockpit recording equipment, such as picture recorders, and heightened scrutiny of Air India's safety record. Victims' relatives and legal representatives, including a US-based attorney, have sought the immediate release of cockpit voice and flight data recorder data, stating that transparency is critical to justice and accountability. Finally, we discuss the current situation. Air India has started a phased return of international flights and initiated public reassurance ads as part of a larger attempt to regain trust. The Supreme Court has dismissed applications for a thorough fleet safety audit, arguing that such concerns apply to the entire sector, not just one airline. Join us as we piece together the known facts, investigate contributory causes, and emphasize the larger ramifications for aviation safety in India and around the world.