WHAT IF FUEL SWITCHES WERE NEVER TOUCHED BY THE PILOTS - COULD IT EVER BE POSSIBLE ??

Further to previous post, I have something important that I present here for your kind read and perusal.  The efforts are solely to keep the AI171 memory still active and not fade away in oblivion with passage of time.

Few contentions are seen across the globe strongly believing the theory that pilots may have physically moved the Fuel switches. Well, this movement is theoretically possible in response to a dual engine failure. as part of a relight protocol or to avoid any fuel-related catastrophe like fire, etc as a safety measure. However, in this case it is less likely that the fuel switches were physically moved, for the following reasons:

1) At 08:08:42 and 08:08:43 UTC, Engine 1 and Engine 2 respectively, were already in flamed out position and a total electrical loss had occurred couple of seconds earlier. RAT deployment occurance indicating and firming it( 08:08:40 / 41 UTC) (estimated) , there would have been no power available to energize the solenoid-based actuators that command the FSOVs via the electro-mechanical cockpit fuel switches. At that moment, those switches were rendered as mere powerless mechanical joysticks. Thus with the simultaneous flame-out, the solenoids would have been completely de-energized.

2) The 787’s architecture incorporates a fail-safe mechanism in the solenoid-based FSOV actuators. Since the RAT deployed almost immediately after lift-off (as noted in the AAIB PR), this strongly indicates a total power loss. Under such conditions, the FSOVs would spring-close automatically in sequence. This would cut off fuel supply instantly, leading to starvation and engine flame-out.

3) The FDR’s recording of CUT-OFF discretes, therefore, may not represent physical movement of the cockpit fuel switches. At that moment, those switches were effectively powerless mechanical levers that could only move but not command any Fuel Valves function. 

4)What the FDR captured is apparently more consistent with fuel valve closures occurring as a fail-safe action, or possibly a result of a spurious logic command arising from the electrical cascade. 

THUS, there is a high probability that the FUEL SWITCHES were NEVER TOUCHED by the PILOTS at all and it remained in RUN POSTION right throughout from beginning as it is. Tbe transitioning to RUN by both Switches are likely FSOV discretes recorded in FDR, during re-opening of valve on an AUTOMATIC RELIGHT ATTEMPT via FADEC.

Lastly, there is no doubt the pilots were highly trained professionals. That said, even the best commanders can experience moments of chaos or decision paralysis when total systems collapse suddenly.

Disclaimer-This is a purely personal, independent unofficial deep-dive analysis prepared for knowledge-sharing with peers.