A preliminary investigation into last month’s Air India crash has revealed confusion in the cockpit moments before the aircraft went down, killing all 260 people on board. According to Indian authorities, the jetliner’s engines lost power after both fuel cutoff switches flipped almost simultaneously shortly after takeoff.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its initial findings on Saturday, shedding new light on the June 12 crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London from Ahmedabad. The report describes how the aircraft began losing thrust and altitude moments after liftoff.

Closed-circuit footage from the airport showed that a ram air turbine a backup power source had deployed almost immediately, signaling an engine power failure.

In the cockpit, the final moments captured by the flight recorder indicated confusion between the pilots. One is heard asking, “Why did you cut off the fuel?” to which the other responds, “I didn’t.” The report did not specify which pilot made either remark or who issued the distress call, “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.”

The captain, 56-year-old Sumeet Sabharwal, had more than 15,600 flight hours and also served as an instructor. His co-pilot, Clive Kunder, 32, had logged over 3,400 hours.

The investigation noted that the fuel cutoff switches moved from “run” to “cutoff” nearly simultaneously after takeoff, but the cause remains unclear.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu urged caution, telling local media: “We care for the welfare and well-being of our pilots. Let’s not jump to conclusions. We must wait for the final report.”

The incident presents a major setback to Tata Group, which has been working to revive Air India’s global standing and modernize its fleet since taking over the airline from the Indian government in 2022.