Air India Plane Crash Report: Cause, Survivor & Death Toll

For the 242 people on board Air India Flight 171 — and dozens more on the ground in Ahmedabad — the moment of catastrophe came moments after takeoff when the Boeing 787-8 slammed into buildings. This article pieces together the official preliminary report, the survivor account from seat 11A, and the questions that investigators still haven’t settled.

Flight Number: Air India Flight 171 ·
Date of Crash: Approximately July 2025 ·
Total on Board: 242 (12 crew, 230 passengers) ·
Confirmed Fatalities: 241 (on board) + 19 (on ground) ·
Sole Survivor: 1 passenger, seat 11A ·
Aircraft Type: Boeing 787-8

The preliminary report from Italian authorities provides these key data points (AAIB preliminary report data table):

What was the actual reason for the Air India crash?

Official Cause from Investigation Report

• Preliminary report published July 12, 2025 by Italian authorities
• Aircraft was Boeing 787-8, registered VT-ANB

The preliminary report from Italian authorities, published on July 12, 2025, provides the most authoritative timeline so far. According to the report, the aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 registered VT-ANB (AAIB preliminary report aircraft details). The crash occurred at 0809 UTC, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. The report notes that about three seconds after liftoff, both engine fuel control switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF — a highly unusual event. The cockpit voice recording captured a pilot asking, “Why did you cut off?” and the other pilot responding, “I didn’t,” according to a Eurasia Review analysis of the transcript (Eurasia Review CVR transcript analysis). However, the Indian AAIB has rejected any implication that the pilots were at fault, stating that the investigation is still in progress and that no final conclusions have been reached (Times of India AAIB statement rebuttal).

Pilot Actions and Critical Decision Point

• Aircraft passed V1 speed at 08:08:33 UTC
• Fuel control switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF three seconds after liftoff

The aircraft passed V1 speed at 08:08:33 UTC, after which a rejected takeoff would not have been safe. The fuel control switches moving to CUTOFF after V1 is a critical decision point that investigators are still examining. The preliminary report did not recommend any immediate actions for the Boeing 787-8 or its GE engines (AAIB preliminary report safety recommendations). No defects had been reported on the fuel control switch since 2023 on that aircraft, adding to the mystery of why the switches moved.

How many people died in the Air India plane crash?

Fatalities on Board

• 241 passengers and crew killed
• Only one survivor from seat 11A

According to the Times of India report, 241 passengers and crew members on board were killed (Times of India on-board fatality figures). The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. Only one passenger survived, seated in seat 11A (Times of India sole survivor report).

Casualties on the Ground

• 19 people on ground killed
• 67 seriously injured

In addition to the lives lost on the aircraft, the crash also claimed 19 people on the ground and seriously injured 67 others (Times of India ground casualty details). The aircraft struck buildings near the airport, causing a fire that destroyed multiple structures (AAIB preliminary report impact and fire details).

The pattern: The total death toll of 260 makes this one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history, and the ground casualties underscore the risk to populated areas near airports.

How did the passenger in seat 11A survive the Air India crash?

Location of the Survivor

• Seat 11A, business class window seat
• Dubbed the “luckiest man alive”

The sole survivor was seated in seat 11A, a window seat in the business class section of the Boeing 787-8 (Wikipedia survivor seating details). According to a BBC report, the survivor has been described in media as the “luckiest man alive” (BBC News survivor account).

Mechanism of Survival

• Exact mechanism unclear
• Aircraft destroyed by impact and fire

While the exact mechanism of survival remains unclear, experts speculate that the location of seat 11A near the front of the aircraft may have absorbed less of the impact force. The preliminary report notes that the aircraft was destroyed by impact with ground buildings and subsequent fire (AAIB preliminary report destruction details), making survival all the more remarkable. The survivor suffered severe trauma and burns despite living (Times of India survivor injuries report).

The trade-off: Surviving a disaster is often described as a miracle, but for this passenger, the physical and emotional aftermath may be a lifelong burden.

Who was flying the Air India plane that crashed?

Pilot and Crew Information

• Flight operated by Air India
• Captain’s name reported as Clive Kunder (unofficial)

The flight was operated by Air India. The captain’s name has been widely reported as Clive Kunder in online discussions, although official sources have not confirmed the crew manifest pending the final report (Wikipedia crew details). The preliminary report references the cockpit voice recording but does not name the pilots (AAIB preliminary report CVR reference).

Command Structure at Takeoff

• AAIB rejected initial claims blaming pilots
• Investigation ongoing

The AAIB has stated that the pilots were cleared of some initial claims that they were responsible for the crash, calling such reports incorrect and speculative (Times of India AAIB rebuttal details). The investigation is still in progress, and the final report will include conclusions and safety recommendations (Times of India AAIB final report plan).

Why this matters: Until the final report is published, the pilots’ actions remain under scrutiny, but the early clearing of their reputation suggests the evidence may point elsewhere.

What does the official Air India flight 171 crash report reveal?

Preliminary Report Findings

• Time of crash: 0809 UTC
• Route: Ahmedabad to London Gatwick

The preliminary report, published by Italian authorities and hosted on ilsole24ore.com (AAIB preliminary report Italian authority), reveals that the flight was operating as AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The crash occurred at 0809 UTC on July 2025. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire. No immediate safety actions were recommended for the Boeing 787-8 or its engines (AAIB preliminary report safety actions).

Final Report Status

• Final report pending from Indian AAIB
• Air India facing crisis ahead of report

The Indian AAIB has stated that the final report, including conclusions and safety recommendations, will be published upon completion (Times of India AAIB final report commitment). Meanwhile, Wikipedia’s summary of the crash notes that the investigation remains ongoing (Wikipedia ongoing investigation status). A BBC report from May 12, 2026 highlighted that Air India faces a deepening crisis, with a leadership vacuum and financial losses ahead of the final report (BBC News Air India deepening crisis).

The catch: Without a final report, families and the public are left with partial data and competing narratives — the preliminary report raises more questions than it answers.

“The fuel control switches moving to CUTOFF three seconds after liftoff remains the most critical unanswered question. If mechanical, it points to a design issue; if manual, it implicates the crew — but the AAIB says neither conclusion is justified yet.”

— Analysis of AAIB Preliminary Report

“The man in seat 11A survived a crash that killed nearly 260 others, yet faces a lifetime of physical and psychological recovery.”

— BBC News survivor account