In a shocking revelation, a preliminary investigation has found that both engines of an Air India flight, which tragically crashed last month, were starved of fuel just moments before impact. The June 12 disaster claimed the lives of 260 people, including 19 on the ground, marking one of the deadliest aviation incidents in India’s history. The report, released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, indicates that the fuel control switches were inexplicably moved from the “Run” to “Cutoff” position, leading to catastrophic dual engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Confusion among the flight crew was evident, as cockpit recordings revealed a chaotic exchange between the pilots regarding the fuel switches. One pilot asked if the switch had been cut off, to which the other responded, “No.” Aviation experts are raising critical questions: Was the switch movement a deliberate act or an inadvertent error? The investigation has left many unanswered queries, particularly about how the switches were manipulated—whether manually or through an electrical malfunction.

Eyewitness accounts from the sole survivor of the crash add to the tragedy, highlighting the random nature of survival amid such chaos. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was carrying 230 passengers, with the majority being Indian nationals, alongside a few from the UK, Portugal, and Canada. The report’s preliminary findings have triggered a flurry of speculation and concern about the safety protocols in place, as investigators delve deeper into the pilots’ training records and the circumstances leading up to this devastating event.

As authorities continue to sift through the wreckage and data from flight recorders, the aviation community watches closely, eager for answers to prevent such a calamity from happening again. The urgency for clarity is palpable, as families of the victims seek justice and understanding in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy.