Human Factors in Focus from the AAIB Preliminary Report

On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171 (VT-ANB), operating a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick, resulting in 260 fatalities, including passengers, crew, and individuals on the ground. The event marks one of the most tragic aviation incidents in recent Indian aviation history.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Government of India, has released its preliminary investigation report, which provides early insights into the sequence of events leading up to the crash. While the investigation remains ongoing, several critical observations point toward the possible role of human factors and cockpit-system interaction failures in this tragedy.

Key Observations from the Preliminary Report

• At the time of liftoff, both engines’ fuel control switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF, effectively shutting down all thrust just seconds after becoming airborne.
• The cockpit voice recorder (CVR)captured a revealing exchange:

Pilot 1: “Why did you cutoff?”
Pilot 2: “I did not.”

• The aircraft attempted to restart the engines midair, but the altitude loss was unrecoverable.
• The FAA had previously issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB)in 2018, warning of the potential for disengaged locking mechanisms on fuel control switches—a design concern also applicable to the 787-8 model.
• Air India did not conduct the suggested inspections, as the SAIB was advisory and not mandatory under existing regulations.
• The aircraft flight data recorders showed that engine shutdown was not due to mechanical failure, bird strike, or fuel contamination.

Possible Human Factors at Play

The initial evidence raises a critical possibility: the inadvertent shutdown of both engines by flight crew, potentially linked to cockpit design, human error, or unintended interaction with critical controls.

Some potential contributing factors include:

• Control misidentificationduring a high workload phase such as takeoff
• Startle responseand breakdown in cockpit coordination
• Design vulnerabilitiesin the fuel control switch that allowed unintended actuation
• Experience gapbetween the captain and co-pilot, which may have affected crew resource management

While neither pilot appears to have intentionally shut down the engines, the possibility of accidental or unconscious input remains a focal point for further investigation.

The Critical Role of Aviation Psychology

At Neurosynk Research, we specialize in studying and addressing the psychological, behavioral, and cognitive factors that impact safety in high-stakes aviation environments. This incident brings to light several key areas within our domain of research:

• Cockpit Ergonomics and Interface Design
  Poorly designed or ambiguously labeled controls can contribute to inadvertent activation—especially under stress.
• Pilot Error under Stress and Startle Conditions
  Understanding how cognitive overload or panic responses may influence decision-making is vital to improving training protocols.
• Crew Resource Management (CRM)
  Effective communication, role clarity, and shared mental models between flight crew are essential for error mitigation.
• Compliance Behavior and Safety Culture
  The airline’s decision not to inspect the advisory SAIB highlights the gap between compliance and actual risk mitigation practices.

Preliminary, Not Final

It is important to note that this is only a preliminary report. The final report by AAIB will provide a conclusive narrative after deeper analysis of engineering, procedural, and human factors data.

Until then, this tragedy serves as a sobering reminder: human factors must be prioritized as much as mechanical integrity in aviation safety.

Our Commitment

At Neurosynk, we are committed to applying behavioral science, psychometrics, and advanced research methods to improve aviation safety. We continue to work closely with airlines, regulatory authorities, training organizations, and system designers to ensure that the human element is not overlooked—because in aviation, you can’t train what you don’t measure.

For collaborations or expert consultations on human factors in aviation, reach out to us at [contact@neurosynkresearch.com].