Air India Plane Crash: Preliminary Findings Point to Fuel Supply Interruption

The tragic crash of an Air India passenger aircraft last month, which resulted in the loss of 260 lives, has prompted a comprehensive investigation into the potential causes. A preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) suggests that a disruption in the fuel supply to the engines may have played a critical role in the disaster.

According to the findings, the fuel control levers for both engines unexpectedly shifted to the 'off' position shortly after takeoff, resulting in a sudden loss of thrust. This abrupt change reportedly caused confusion within the cockpit, as the pilots were uncertain why the fuel switches had been disengaged.

Witnesses described a harrowing scene as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which had been en route to London, crashed into a residential area of Ahmedabad in Gujarat on June 12. Of the 242 individuals on board, 241 perished, while a single British passenger survived the incident.

The investigation revealed that the aircraft's Ram-Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency system designed to generate hydraulic and electrical power during critical situations, was activated shortly after the aircraft began its ascent. Surveillance footage from the airport confirmed the deployment of this system.

Experts in aviation safety, including Graham Braithwaite from Cranfield University, have emphasized that fuel control switches are designed to be resilient against accidental activation, requiring deliberate action to operate. This raises questions regarding the circumstances leading to the switch's deactivation, as the preliminary report does not indicate that either pilot intentionally altered the setting.

Moreover, the report noted that there was no evidence of bird strikes or other external factors contributing to the aircraft's loss of altitude before it collided with the ground. One pilot managed to issue a distress call with the code 'Mayday Mayday Mayday,' indicating the severity of the situation.

As the investigation continues, the AAIB has stated that there are currently no recommendations for operators or manufacturers of the Boeing 787-8 or the General Electric GEnx-1B engines. The inquiry involves collaboration with specialists from Boeing, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the engine manufacturer.

Air India has acknowledged receipt of the preliminary findings but has refrained from commenting on specific details due to the ongoing investigation.