Inside the cockpit: ‘Why did you cut off ...?' What was the last conversation between AI 171 pilots
NEW DELHI: The cockpit voice recorder from the London-bound Air India 787 that crashed in Ahmedabad has revealed the final conversation between the flight Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and first officer Clive Kunder.
A 15-page preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in its detailing, disclosed that after the fuel supply to both engines of the aircraft was cut off, one pilot was heard asking 'Why did you cutoff?' to which the other replied, 'I did not do so,' suggesting a potential technical malfunction or involuntary activation.
The AAIB report, released a month after the June 12 crash, lists key details about the accident flight, the crew, and the final moments recorded in the cockpit.
Flight AI171 was operated by a flight crew comprising a Pilot-in-Command (PIC) and a Co-pilot, along with ten cabin crew members.
The report mentions that the operating crew had arrived in Ahmedabad a day earlier. Upon reaching the airport, the crew underwent a preflight breath analyser test at 06:25 UTC and were found 'fit to operate' the flight.
The report also stated that both pilots had adequate rest before operating the June 12 flight.
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Data from the aircraft's Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) showed that the aircraft had reached its maximum recorded airspeed just before the engine 1 and engine 2 fuel control switches were shifted from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' — one after the other.
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Engine 1 and Engine 2 cut off within 1 second: What caused Air India plane crash? 10 key findings from probe report
AAIB report reveals minutes before the aircraft was airborne. At 07:55:15 UTC (13:25:15 IST), the aircraft requested taxi clearance, which was granted by Air Traffic Control (ATC).
The aircraft took off at 08:08:39 UTC (13:38:39 IST), and at 08:09:05 UTC (13:39:05 IST), one of the pilots transmitted a distress call: 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY.'
The air traffic controller (ATCO) responded by asking for the flight's call sign but received no reply, the report said.
The report also stated that the aircraft's take-off weight was within allowable limits, and there were no dangerous goods listed onboard.
Flight AI171, bound for London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 241 onboard.
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