A preliminary investigation into the tragic Air India crash on June 12 has revealed that fuel to the aircraft’s engines was cut off moments before the disaster, which claimed the lives of 260 people. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India released a report indicating that the fuel control switches for both engines transitioned from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” position one after the other, with a one-second interval between them.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was en route from Ahmedabad in western India to London when it crashed shortly after takeoff. Out of the 242 people on board, only one survived, along with 19 fatalities on the ground and dozens injured. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other, “Why did you cut off?” to which the second pilot responded, “I did not.”
Unexpected Engine Shutdown
After the fuel switches were moved to the “CUTOFF” position, the aircraft began to lose altitude rapidly. Although the switches were returned to the “RUN” position and the engines appeared to be regaining power, one of the pilots issued a desperate “MAYDAY” call. Air traffic controllers attempted to communicate but soon witnessed the plane’s catastrophic descent.
Previous Warnings Unheeded
The report also highlighted that the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration had issued an information bulletin in 2018 regarding “the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature.” While this was deemed an advisory rather than a mandatory directive, Air India acknowledged it did not perform the suggested inspections.
Despite this, the investigation noted that Air India was compliant with all required airworthiness directives and service bulletins. There were no recommended actions for Boeing 787-8 operators or the engine manufacturers, suggesting no inherent technical faults with the aircraft or its engines.
Ongoing Investigation
The bureau emphasized that the investigation is still underway, with additional evidence being collected. International experts from the United States and the United Kingdom are participating in the probe, in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s regulations requiring a preliminary report within 30 days of an accident.
The sole survivor, a British citizen, has been discharged from the hospital after miraculously walking away from the wreckage. Initially, officials reported higher casualty figures, but forensic analysis clarified the numbers due to the condition of the remains.
Boeing has not yet responded to requests for comment on the preliminary findings.
