Air India flight had fuel supply ‘shut off' to both engines
Fuel control switches to the engines of the fatal Air India flight were moved from the 'run' to the 'cutoff' position moments before impact, a preliminary report has revealed — with a photo of the switches inside the plane's cockpit sparking a fierce debate.
A 15-page report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau was released on Saturday morning AEST. The report did not offer any conclusions or apportion blame for the June 12 disaster, but indicated that one pilot asked the other why he cut off fuel, and the second pilot responded that he had not.
A photo of one of the plane's wings included in the report. Picture: AAIB
A CCTV image of the plane taking off. Picture: AAIB
The London-bound aircraft crashed on June 12, killing 241 people on-board and 19 on the ground after it took off from Ahmedabad in western India.
The report details how cockpit audio from Air India Flight 171 captured one pilot asking, 'Why did you cut-off?' with the other responding, 'I didn't' before the plane went down.
Whether the fuel supply was cut off deliberately or accidentally is still under investigation, the report states.
'Both engines were retrieved from the wreckage site and quarantined at a hangar in the airport,' the report said.
'Components of interest for further examinations have been identified and quarantined.'
The report detailed how shortly after takeoff, Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches changed from 'run' to 'cutoff' one after another - with just a one-second time gap.
Photo of the landing gear. Picture: AAIB
A photo of the plane's tail was included in the report. Picture: AAIB
After the pilots discussed the switch, both engines were put back into 'run' mode, however failed to reignite in time.
The report states one of the pilots called out 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY' before the plane crashed.
A picture from inside the cockpit shows the position of the fuel switches, sparking a debate online.
The picture shows the position of the fuel cut off switch.
Many are asking why the switches are not guarded.
'Honestly I've been flying for years in both Boeing and AirbusTill this day I don't understand why the fuel switches / engine master switches are not guarded,' one person said. 'Although you have to pull the switches in order to flip it, it's better to be guarded to avoid catastrophic mistakes."
The flight crew consisted of a pilot-in-command, aged 56, with over 15,000 total flying hours and a co-pilot aged 32, with over 3,400 total flying hours.
Debris of Air India flight 171 is pictured after it crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
'Both pilots were based at Mumbai and had arrived at Ahmedabad on the previous day,' the report said.
'They had adequate rest period prior to operating the said flight.'
The report also showed CCTV images obtained from the airport which showed no problems with the plane's 'inital climb'.
'No significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path,' the report stated.
'The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall.'
Five buildings were also destroyed on the ground as a result of the crash.
'The aircraft was destroyed due to impact with the buildings on the ground and subsequent fire,' the report said.
Investigation ongoing
Earlier this week, specialist website The Air Current, citing multiple sources familiar with the probe, reported it had 'narrowed its focus to the movement of the engine fuel switches', while noting that full analysis will 'take months -- if not longer'.
It added that 'the focus of the investigators could change during that time'. The Indian agency's report said that the US Federal Aviation Administration had issued an information bulletin in 2018 about 'the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature'.
Though the concern was not considered an 'unsafe condition' that would warrant a more serious directive, Air India told investigators it did not carry out suggested inspections as they were 'advisory and not mandatory'.
At least 265 people on board and on the ground were killed. (Photo by Vijay Patani / AFP)
Air India was compliant with all airworthiness directives and alert service bulletins on the aircraft, the report said.
The investigations bureau said there were 'no recommended actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers', suggesting no technical issues with the engines (GE) or the aircraft (Boeing).
Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The bureau said the investigation was ongoing, and that additional evidence and information has been 'sought from the stakeholders'.
The UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) stipulates that states heading investigation must submit a preliminary report within 30 days of an accident.
US and British air accident investigators have taken part in the probe. The plane was carrying 230 passengers -- 169 Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian -- along with 12 crew members.
Dozens of people on the ground were injured.
One passenger miraculously survived, a British citizen who was seen walking out of the wreckage of the crash, and who has since been discharged from hospital.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) meeting with Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, sole survivor of the Air India flight 171 crash.
— more to come
Originally published as 'Why did you cut off?': Air India flight had fuel supply 'shut off' to both engines
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