Preliminary Findings Reveal Fuel Cutoff Caused Air India Plane Crash

New Delhi - A preliminary investigation into the crash of an Air India flight last month has revealed that the fuel control switches for the aircraft's engines were switched from the 'run' position to 'cutoff' just moments before impact, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust shortly after takeoff. The report, released by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, detailed the events surrounding the incident that occurred on June 12, resulting in the deaths of at least 260 individuals, including 19 on the ground, in Ahmedabad. Only one passenger survived, marking this as one of the most devastating aviation disasters in India's history.

The ill-fated flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was carrying a total of 230 passengers, comprising 169 Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian, alongside 12 crew members.

According to the investigation, the flight lasted approximately 30 seconds from takeoff to crash. The report indicated that as the aircraft reached its maximum speed, both engine fuel cutoff switches transitioned to the 'cutoff' position in rapid succession--within a second. However, it remains unclear how these switches were inadvertently moved to the 'cutoff' setting during the flight.

Although the pilots managed to switch the fuel controls back to 'run', the aircraft was unable to gain the necessary power to prevent its descent. The report noted that one pilot transmitted a distress call, indicating an emergency situation. Aviation expert Terry Tozer commented on the unusual nature of the switches being turned off just seconds after takeoff, expressing concern that the altitude was too low for the engines to recover in time.

Confusion in the cockpit was evident just before the crash, with recordings revealing one pilot questioning why the fuel had been cut off, to which the other pilot denied having made that change. This exchange highlights a critical communication failure in the moments leading up to the disaster.

The preliminary report did not attribute any responsibility to Boeing; the company expressed its readiness to assist the ongoing investigation and extended condolences to the victims' families. India's civil aviation minister emphasized that these findings are preliminary, urging caution against drawing conclusions until the final report is released.

In response to the incident, Air India announced its full cooperation with the authorities conducting the investigation. The airline is actively engaging with stakeholders, including regulators, while working alongside the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.

The aircraft's black boxes, which contain crucial cockpit voice and flight data recorders, were recovered and analyzed following the crash. Indian authorities have also mandated comprehensive inspections of Air India's entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners to avert similar incidents in the future. Air India currently operates 33 Dreamliners.