[bill1952]

WTH do avionics have to do with the engines shutting down?

Still sounds like the fuel was cut off.
But, too early to tell.
Fortunately, we have the remains intact, so we will only have to wait a year or so for the report. /s

[BenLurkin]

The fancier they make the plumbing...?

[FoxInSocks]

WTH do avionics have to do with the engines shutting down?

Probably because control systems are fly-by-wire these days.

[bigfootbob]

Don’t airlines fuel jets with just enough fuel for the route they’re flying? Perhaps they didn’t top off the tanks with enough fuel?

[Doe Eyes]

WTH do avionics have to do with the engines shutting down?

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) initial statements said that both engines did not respond to demands for an increase in thrust from the autothrottle and later manual pilot input.

They did not say the engines shut down.

[TalonDJ]

WTH do avionics have to do with the engines shutting down?

They don't. I don't know the 777's systems but I know a number of other state of the art avionics architectures and there is no way. The avionics system does not get direct access to commanding the engines. Only through the autothrottle and that is a mechanical link that is pilot over-rideable by just moving the handle. And the report seems to be that that system tried to do it's job correctly. No matter how much more complicated they make 'the plumbing' systems segregation and fault tolerance is still fundamental. So far this is just sounding more and more puzzling.