Preliminary investigation reveals that the Air India AI-171 accident was suspected to be caused by a sudden engine fuel switch malfunction.

The Air India jetliner that crashed on June 12 almost immediately after taking off plummeted back to the ground because fuel supply was cut off to both engines and the pilots failed to regain thrust in time to avert the catastrophe,

Investigators probing a deadly Air India crash said in a preliminary report that the aircraft's engine fuel switches were flipped to an off position briefly, leading to confusion in the cockpit and putting focus on the pilots flying the Boeing 787.