Air India Crash: Preliminary Report Reveals Fuel Cutoff Before Impact

A preliminary report into the fatal Air India crash that killed 260 people on June 12 has revealed that fuel to both engines was cut off moments after takeoff, leading to a rapid loss of thrust.

Investigators with India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) found that flight recorder data indicated the plane’s fuel control switches moved to the cutoff position within a second of liftoff. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking, “why did you cut off?” to which the other pilot reportedly denied the action.

The London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kundar, crashed less than a minute after departing Ahmedabad airport. Although one engine briefly regained thrust after the switches were returned to their normal position, it was insufficient to prevent the plane’s deceleration and subsequent plummet into a building.

The report also noted a 2019 FAA bulletin concerning a similar fuel switch design in some Boeing 737s where the locking feature could be disengaged. Air India, as the bulletin was advisory, had not performed inspections on the crashed aircraft, VT-ANB, which utilized the same switch design. The AAIB’s investigation is ongoing, with a final report expected in 12 months.

阅读中文版 (Read Chinese Version)

Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.