Air India Crash: What We Know So Far

Air India Crash Date: June 12
Location: Ahmedabad, India
Fatalities: 260 (241 on board + 19 on ground)
Aircraft: Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Route: Ahmedabad to London

Key Findings from Preliminary Investigation

• Cockpit Voice Recording (CVR):
  
  • Captures a discussion where the first officer questions why the captain moved the fuel switches.
    
  • The fuel supply was cut off, starving the engines just after takeoff.
    
  • One pilot denies moving the fuel switches.
    
• Flight Data Recorder (FDR):
  
  • Shows both fuel switches flipped from “run” to “cutoff”—one second apart.
    
  • Engines lost power immediately after takeoff; emergency systems deployed.
    
  • The plane attempted auto-restart but was too low and slow to recover.
    
• Air India Crash Impact:
  
  • Aircraft clipped trees and a chimney.
    
  • Crashed into a building at a medical college campus.
    
  • Only 1 survivor out of 242 people on board.
    

Noteworthy Insights

• Captain’s Action Under Scrutiny:
  
  • A U.S. assessment (not officially documented) leans toward the captain having flipped the switches, though video proof is lacking.
    
  • The intention or reasoning behind this action remains unclear.
    
• No Mechanical Faults Found:
  
  • AAIB confirmed no system or maintenance issues.
    
  • Boeing and GE (engine maker) were not issued any safety recommendations.
    
  • FAA and Boeing affirmed fuel switch locks were functioning normally.
    
• Investigative Limitations: Air India Crash
  
  • No cockpit camera—a video could have clarified who acted.
    
  • Growing calls to install cockpit image recorders in commercial aircraft for clearer insights during such incidents.
    

Ongoing Concerns & Implications

• Final report expected within a year.
  
• Emphasis on the need to explore all contributing factors before reaching any conclusions.
  
• Raises global aviation concerns about:
  
  • Human error vs. system safeguards
    
  • Crew communication and cockpit hierarchy
    
  • Real-time monitoring and accountability

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