As a result of the aviation accident, 241 people on board the aircraft were killed, and dozens more died at the crash site.
According to Reuters, initial reports indicate that there was confusion in the cockpit before the plane crash. This was because the fuel cutoff switches for the engines were activated almost simultaneously, causing the fuel supply to the engines to stop. This is mentioned in a report released by India's official agency for investigating accidents.
As soon as the plane took off, the surveillance camera recorded the activation of the auxiliary power unit—the RAM air turbine. This was a sign that power had been cut off from the engines.
According to American aviation expert John Nance, under normal circumstances, pilots never turn off these switches during flight, especially when the plane is taking off. Switching the buttons to "cutoff" mode almost immediately shuts down the engines. Typically, this is only done after the plane has landed at the airport or in emergency situations—for example, if there is a fire in the engine. However, the report provides no evidence of any emergency situation.
Boeing stated that it continues to assist Air India and the investigation regarding the report.
