Investigators have made a chilling revelation in the preliminary probe of the Air India Flight 171 crash, which tragically claimed 260 lives in June. Moments after takeoff, the fuel-control switches of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner unexpectedly shifted to the "cut-off" position, abruptly halting fuel flow to the engines and resulting in a complete loss of power. Typically, this switch is only engaged after landing. In the cockpit recordings, one pilot inquired why the switch was activated, to which the other responded that he did not do it. The uncertain attribution of the remarks leaves key questions unanswered.
Initially airborne for less than 40 seconds, the Air India flight lost connection data shortly after climbing to 625 feet in clear weather, eventually crashing into a densely populated area in Ahmedabad. A recent 15-page report provides early insights while investigators sift through wreckage and cockpit communications to determine what transpired immediately following takeoff.
Key questions arise as investigators highlight the design of the lever-lock fuel switches, built with safety features that make accidental activation seem highly unlikely. According to an aviation investigator speaking on the condition of anonymity, "It would be almost impossible to pull both switches with one hand." This peculiarity makes the case even more perplexing.
Shawn Pruchnicki, a former airline accident investigator, expressed concern over why one of the pilots might have turned the switches off, suggesting that there must have been some rationale for such an unexpected action. Furthermore, Peter Goelz, a former managing director of the NTSB, noted the gravity of the finding, emphasizing that the voice recorder likely contains more critical exchanges not yet disclosed, with clear identification of pilot voices being instrumental for analysis.
The investigation emphasizes the need for precise identification of speakers from the cockpit voice recorder and the potential introduction of cockpit video recording systems for future flights. Prior to boarding, both pilots were confirmed fit to fly after undergoing breathalyser tests.
An additional area of interest highlighted in the report relates to a warning issued by the FAA in December 2018 concerning Boeing 737 fuel control switches possibly exhibiting disengaged locking features, which could lead to accidental shutoffs. While Air India did not inspect its 787-8 aircraft based on this advisory, questions linger whether the same concerns apply.
Captain Kishore Chinta pointed out the potential for electronic interference with fuel switches, while investigators dismissed fuel contamination when examining fuel samples. They found the aircraft's emergency Ram Air Turbine had deployed, indicating a severe systems failure prior to the incident.
Ultimately, experts elucidated the crew's momentary attempts to recover following the engine loss, although it was too little, too late, given the critical timeframe and impending crash. With unanswered questions surrounding the actions of the pilots and the aircraft’s systems, investigators continue to push for clarity in understanding this tragic event.
