A preliminary report into the Air India plane crash last month has revealed a shocking detail: the engine fuel control switches were briefly switched off seconds after takeoff, starving the engines of fuel. This critical finding sheds light on the possible chain of events that led to the tragic accident in Ahmedabad, India.
Fuel Cutoff: What Happened?
According to the India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report, the fuel cutoff switches in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's cockpit moved to a "CUTOFF" position shortly after the plane left the ground. The report states that both Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of only one second. This action caused the engine speed to decrease rapidly as the fuel supply was cut off.
The preliminary report from investigators probing the Air India crash that killed 260 people showed that seconds after takeoff, the plane's engine fuel control switches were switched off briefly, starving them of fuel.
Confusion in the Cockpit
Adding to the mystery, the cockpit voice recording reveals confusion among the pilots. One pilot is heard asking the other why he "cut off" the fuel, to which the other pilot responded that he did not do so. The report doesn't specify which pilot made which statement. Just before the crash, a "mayday, mayday, mayday" call was made.
What are Fuel Control Switches?
Fuel control switches regulate the flow of fuel to a plane's engines. They are typically used to start or shut down engines on the ground or to manually shut down or restart engines in case of engine failure during a flight. While these switches are commonly used to turn off engines after arriving at the gate or during emergencies like engine fires, using both switches simultaneously is rare. The report indicates no emergency situation warranted the fuel cutoff.
Experienced Pilots
Both pilots were highly experienced, with a combined total of approximately 19,000 flying hours, including over 9,000 hours on the Boeing 787. This fact makes the accidental fuel cutoff even more perplexing.
Investigation Continues
The 15-page preliminary report raises many questions and does not offer a definitive conclusion. The investigation is ongoing, and further analysis is needed to determine the exact cause of the fuel cutoff and the sequence of events that led to the devastating Air India plane crash. The aviation community and families of the victims await answers as investigators delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.
A Family's Loss
The crash also impacted people on the ground. Nareshsinh Thakore's two-year-old daughter and his mother-in-law, Sarlaben Thakore, were among the 19 people who were killed on the ground. Sarlaben had gone to the BJ Medical College to deliver food when the plane crashed into the hostel complex. The child was with her at the time.