Air India crash probe should also focus on possible fault in stabilizer: Aviation expert
Air India flight 171, which crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad, killing 241 on board and 19 on the ground, had arrived from Delhi before its onward journey to London Gatwick on June 12. The crew reported a fault with the stabilizer to engineers in
Ahmedabad
who fixed it, according to a preliminary report into the investigation released on July 12.
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Select a Course Category
Data Analytics
Product Management
PGDM
others
Data Science
Management
Degree
Project Management
Public Policy
Technology
Others
Healthcare
Design Thinking
Data Science
Cybersecurity
Digital Marketing
Finance
Leadership
Operations Management
MBA
CXO
Skills you'll gain:
Data Analysis & Visualization
Predictive Analytics & Machine Learning
Business Intelligence & Data-Driven Decision Making
Analytics Strategy & Implementation
Duration:
12 Weeks
Indian School of Business
Applied Business Analytics
Starts on
Jun 13, 2024
Get Details
ALSO READ:
Air India flight 171 crash: AAIB flags 'irresponsible' global media coverage, urges restraint amid ongoing probe
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
This Japanese AI invention allows you to speak 68 languages instantly. The idea? Genius.
Enence 2.0
Undo
Aviation expert Captain Ehsan Khalid told PTI that investigators should also check the flight data recorder for stabilizer inputs data, in case it was not fixed properly and created conditions for the crash during the takeoff roll of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
The stabilizer is part of the aircraft's tail and helps in pitching up and down its nose on command from the pilot.
Live Events
Khalid has flown Airbus and Boeing planes, including Boeing 737.
He said if a fault crops up in the stabilizer during takeoff roll, the pilot flying has to perform the following memorised routine: take one hand off the control column, reach down and turn off the stabilizer control switches located under the thrust lever assembly.
As it happens, the orange switches are right next to the fuel control switches, which have become the focus of the investigation and much speculation into the crash. Khalid suggested that there is a possibility the first officer, who was flying the plane, turned off the fuel to both engines by mistake while intending to cut off the stabilizer, even though both switches feel different to touch.
During takeoff, the pilot does not look anywhere except straight ahead to ensure the plane is climbing safely, he said.
"I have a problem with the Boeing philosophy. It's the pilot flying who is required to turn off the stabilizer in case of a fault and not the other pilot," he said.
In its preliminary report on the
Boeing 787-8 crash
, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said the fuel supply to both engines of the plane was cut off within a gap of one second, causing confusion in the cockpit soon after takeoff.
"In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report said.
According to Khalid, the entire cockpit voice recording could have been made public by the AAIB and if that was released, "these speculations or insinuations or smear campaign would not have been there because a pilot, as a community, feels that they are the goalkeeper of flight safety".
He also said the AAIB report has given rise to more speculations, which were not there before.
Khalid also noted that an electrical malfunction could also have resulted in the aircraft's fuel switches being cut off soon after takeoff.
"While it is also true that the switch may be in one position and that position may be 1 and the second position is 0 in electrical terms... (then) 0 to 1 or 1 to 0 (position) could have transitioned because of an electrical malfunction or a signal malfunction while the switch could be at the same point.
"That is why I think AAIB, in their own judgment, were very careful in not using the word that fuel switches were moved. They could have used it. It is not that they do not know about it," he said.
Amid speculations that pilot error could have caused the crash, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Thursday said it is too early to reach any definite conclusions on the Air India plane crash as the probe is still on and urged everyone to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process amid speculations.
Various pilot associations have raised concerns about the AAIB report and have urged all parties to refrain from speculations. PTI
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Banks need to build resilience against cyber threat: DFS Secretary
Financial Services Secretary M Nagaraju on Saturday cautioned banks to bolster their defences against the growing menace of cyber threats . Speaking at a prize distribution ceremony of the 'Code Against Malware' hackathon at PNB headquarters here, Nagaruaju highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity in the banking sector. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Others Data Analytics Management Technology Cybersecurity Digital Marketing CXO others healthcare Healthcare MBA Degree Project Management MCA Data Science Artificial Intelligence Operations Management Finance Design Thinking Public Policy Leadership PGDM Product Management Data Science Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 months IIM Lucknow SEPO - IIML CHRO India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 16 Weeks Indian School of Business CERT-ISB Transforming HR with Analytics & AI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 28 Weeks MICA CERT-MICA SBMPR Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Such initiatives align with the national goal of building resilience against emerging digital threats, he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Monsoon Sale is Live Now Luxury Watches Shop Now Undo Launched in December 2024, the 'Code Against Malware' hackathon invited student teams from IIT Kanpur and other premier institutions to develop endpoint security solutions to detect ransomware, using behavioural analysis, artificial intelligence, and heuristic techniques. The hackathon was conducted in collaboration with the IIT Kanpur, under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and the Indian Banks' Association (IBA), with the objective of fostering innovation in cybersecurity and engaging India's young technical talent. Live Events PNB MD and CEO Ashok Chandra, in his remarks, underscored the institution's commitment to driving innovation, strengthening cyber defences, and promoting collaboration between industry and academia.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Telangana's Kazipet rail coach factory to begin production next year: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said production at the upcoming rail coach factory in Kazipet, Telangana, would begin next year. Vaishnaw, who visited the unit in Kazipet, about 130 km from Hyderabad, added that the facility is a mega, state-of-the-art factory being built with an investment of Rs 500 crore. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Product Management Healthcare Artificial Intelligence healthcare Leadership Management Others Data Analytics MCA Cybersecurity Digital Marketing Technology Operations Management MBA Project Management CXO Degree Design Thinking Data Science PGDM Data Science Finance Public Policy others Skills you'll gain: Creating Effective Product Roadmap User Research & Translating it to Product Design Key Metrics via Product Analytics Hand-On Projects Using Cutting Edge Tools Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Product Management Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Competitive Advantage Tactics Product Development Processes & Market Orientations Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making Agile Development, Design Thinking, & Product Leadership Duration: 40 Weeks IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Roadmapping User-Centric Product Design Agile Product Development Market Analysis & Product Launch Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Coaches, engines, and other components can be manufactured at the unit, which has been designed to support multiple types of railway manufacturing, said the Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Monsoon Sale is Live Now Luxury Watches Shop Now Undo He added that the factory features one of the finest designs in the world, and the products manufactured there would be of export quality. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is fulfilling Telangana's long-standing demand for a coach manufacturing factory at Kazipet, he said. Live Events Noting that the Indian Railways has bagged an order to export 150 locomotives, Vaishnaw said work on exporting metro coaches has also begun. "India will emerge as a major railway manufacturing and exporting country in the future," he said. Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy, who accompanied Vaishnaw, thanked Prime Minister Modi and the railway minister for establishing the unit in Kazipet. He said the demand for setting up a railway coach factory is over 40 years old and that former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, a native of present-day Telangana (then part of Hyderabad state), had also made efforts toward it. The demand was reiterated during the Telangana statehood agitation , and the unit has now become a reality under PM Modi's leadership, he said. The unit is expected to provide employment to around 3,000 people and generate indirect employment for many others, Reddy added. Speaking to reporters, Vaishnaw said Hyderabad city is a prime focus for the development of the railway network. The South Central Railway General Manager, headquartered in Secunderabad, has been given a target to increase the network's capacity in the Hyderabad area (including Secunderabad and other stations) from about 600 trains a day to 1,200 trains per day, he said. Vaishnaw also said the proposed Regional Ring Road (RRR) in Telangana would be a game-changer. He noted that when Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy recently met him in Delhi, the CM had requested a 30-metre corridor alongside the RRR project to enable rail connectivity throughout the stretch.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Nvidia's Jensen Huang has done something that no other CEO or leader has done before - ease US-China tensions
Nvidia's $4 Trillion Power Move: How Jensen Huang Outplayed Both Trump and Beijing in the AI Chip Battle- In a bold and unexpected shift that's turning heads across global tech and political circles, Nvidia—now the world's first $4 trillion chip company—has just pulled off a strategic power play that no one saw coming. Just days after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, he flew to Beijing and stunned markets by announcing the resumption of H20 chip sales to China, effectively reversing what had been one of the toughest U.S. export bans to date. At a time when U.S.-China tech tensions remain at an all-time high, Huang seems to have found a rare middle path—quiet diplomacy backed by smart business and cultural finesse. And now, with access to China's massive AI market back in play, Nvidia may be headed for another wave of growth, even as the geopolitical climate stays tense. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Healthcare MBA Design Thinking Data Science Product Management Finance Data Science Management others Digital Marketing Data Analytics Degree healthcare Others Leadership Operations Management MCA Public Policy Artificial Intelligence PGDM CXO Technology Cybersecurity Project Management Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details How did Jensen Huang reverse the U.S. chip ban on China? Huang's move came just days after his meeting with President Trump, but he made it clear during a press conference in Beijing: 'I don't think I changed his mind.' Still, the facts speak for themselves. Nvidia's H20 AI chips, previously restricted under a U.S. export ban, are now cleared for sale in China—one of the company's most critical markets for growth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo The decision to resume chip exports comes amid rising concerns in Washington that banning U.S. technology could accelerate China's domestic chip-building efforts. Huang has long warned about this behind closed doors, reportedly making the case that such bans could backfire economically for the U.S. Why did Huang go to Beijing right after meeting Trump? This wasn't just a business trip. Huang timed his Beijing visit to coincide with a major supply-chain expo and also met with top-level Chinese trade officials. In a sign of cultural awareness and bridge-building, Huang even delivered part of his speech in Mandarin—a move widely praised in Chinese media. Live Events While tech CEOs like Tim Cook (Apple) and Elon Musk (Tesla) have had hot-and-cold relationships with Trump, Huang appears to be playing a longer, quieter game. He's avoided political drama publicly, and yet, has managed to open doors in both Washington and Beijing without alienating either side. What does this mean for Nvidia's growth in the AI race? The return of the H20 chips to the Chinese market could be a game-changer. China accounts for over 20% of global AI chip demand, and with the ban lifted, Nvidia is back in the race to dominate AI infrastructure. Nvidia is already seen as the 'arms dealer' of the AI gold rush, supplying chips to nearly every major AI initiative across the world. With China now back in play, the company is better positioned to extend its lead over competitors like AMD and Intel, especially in large-scale AI training and data center deployments. Is Jensen Huang now the unofficial bridge between Washington and Beijing? He's not claiming that title, but he may be the only tech CEO who can still walk freely—and with influence—on both sides of the Pacific. His approach is simple but effective: stay quiet on politics, show cultural respect, and focus on the tech. It's a rare stance that's now paying off. While most U.S. tech leaders are walking on eggshells around Taiwan, semiconductors, and national security, Huang has kept a low profile, avoided public political commentary, and still managed to achieve one of the biggest corporate diplomatic wins in recent memory. What's next for Nvidia after crossing the $4 trillion mark? With its market cap now surpassing $4 trillion, Nvidia has already made history. But this move signals that Jensen Huang isn't done yet. By keeping Nvidia at the center of both the U.S. and Chinese AI ecosystems, he's ensuring the company remains indispensable—no matter how the political winds shift. Investors should watch closely. The return of H20 chip sales could unlock billions in revenue. More importantly, it could set a blueprint for how tech firms navigate fractured global markets without choosing sides. As AI demand continues to surge globally, Huang's balanced and quietly strategic approach may be the model for the next generation of global tech leadership. FAQs: Q1. Why did Nvidia restart H20 chip sales to China? A1. Nvidia resumed H20 chip sales after strategic talks and quiet diplomacy led by CEO Jensen Huang. Q2. How did Jensen Huang manage U.S.-China chip tensions? A2. Huang stayed neutral, met with both sides, and focused on tech, not politics.
