What Happened to the Air India Flight?

A recent report has shed light on the tragic Air India plane crash that happened in June. The plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was on its way to London but crashed just moments after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in western India. The crash resulted in the deaths of 260 people, including passengers and people on the ground. Only one British national survived the crash.

Key Findings

• Fuel Cutoff: The report found that the fuel to the engines was cut off just after takeoff.
• Pilot Confusion: Cockpit voice recordings show confusion between the pilots, with one asking why the fuel was cut off, and the other denying any action.
• Fuel Control Switches: The fuel control switches moved to the cutoff position within a second, which is not standard procedure during takeoff. This caused both engines to lose thrust, leading to the plane's deceleration.
• Regained Thrust: The plane's fuel switches then moved back to their normal position, and one engine managed to regain thrust. However, it was not enough to prevent the crash.
• Mayday Call: The pilots made a mayday call just before the plane crashed into a building, causing an explosion.

Additional Details

• Pilot Rest: The report mentioned that the pilots had enough rest before the flight.
• Bird Activity: Earlier theories about birds causing the crash were dismissed, as there was no significant bird activity near the plane's flight path.
• Ongoing Investigation: The investigation is still ongoing, and a final report is expected in about a year.
• No Immediate Actions: The report did not recommend any immediate actions for Boeing 787-8 or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers.
• FAA Bulletin: The report mentioned a 2019 bulletin from the Federal Aviation Administration about fuel control switches in some Boeing 737s. The bulletin was advisory, and Air India did not perform inspections as a result. There were no reported defects with the fuel control switch on the crashed plane since 2023.
• Expert Opinions: Experts have different opinions on whether the bulletin could have played a role in the crash. The investigation is still ongoing, and more details will be revealed in the final report.