India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has released initial findings on the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which tragically claimed 260 lives. The report reveals a perplexing chain of events in the cockpit, as the aircraft’s fuel supply was inexplicably cut just after takeoff.
The flight data recorder showed that mere seconds after becoming airborne, the fuel cutoff switches for both engines shifted from “Run” to “Cutoff.” The cockpit voice recorder captured a pilot questioning why the cutoff occurred, with the co-pilot, who was flying the plane, responding that he was not responsible.
The crew quickly tried to rectify the mistake. Ten seconds post-cutoff, they managed to switch engine 1 back to “Run,” followed by engine 2, triggering an automatic relight. However, the plane had already started to lose altitude. While one engine began to recover, the other couldn’t regain speed in time, resulting in the crash.
This report has sparked concerns about possible human error and a technical flaw. Although moving the switches demands deliberate force, there is a notable mention of a 2018 bulletin from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which highlighted a potential issue with the switch’s locking mechanism. Air India admitted it skipped the recommended check-ups as the bulletin was not mandatory.
Other potential causes, like weather conditions or bird strikes, have been ruled out. As the investigation progresses, with a final report anticipated next year, the families of the victims are seeking answers and accountability for this devastating loss.
