Air India crash probe focuses on actions of plane's captain Sumeet Sabharwal: report
The newspaper cited people familiar with US officials' early assessment of evidence uncovered in the investigation into the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad, India, that killed 260 people.
The first officer, who was flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, asked the more experienced captain why he moved the fuel switches to the 'cutoff' position seconds after lifting off the runway, the report said.
The two pilots involved were Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had total flying experience of 15,638 hours and 3,403 hours, respectively.
India's AAIB, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Air India and two unions representing Indian pilots did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment on the Wall Street Journal report. Boeing declined to comment.
6 Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was asked by his first officer why he moved the fuel switches to the 'cutoff' position seconds after lifting off the runway, the report said.
Family handout
A preliminary report into the crash released by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday said the fuel switches had switched from run to cutoff a second apart just after takeoff, but it did not say how they were flipped.
Almost immediately after the plane lifted off the ground, closed-circuit TV footage showed a backup energy source called a ram air turbine had deployed, indicating a loss of power from the engines.
One pilot was then heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. 'The other pilot responded that he did not do so,' the report said.
6 A preliminary report into the deadly crash did not say how the fuel switches were flipped.
CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE (CISF)/AFP via Getty Images
Without fuel flowing to the engines, the London-bound plane began to lose thrust. After reaching a height of 650 feet, the plane began to sink.
The fuel switches for both engines were turned back to run, and the airplane automatically tried restarting the engines, the report said.
But the plane was too low and too slow to be able to recover, aviation safety expert John Nance told Reuters.
The plane clipped some trees and a chimney before crashing in a fireball into a building on a nearby medical college campus, the report said, killing 19 people on the ground and 241 of the 242 on board the 787.
6 A firefighter stands next to the crashed Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft in Ahmedabad, India, June 13, 2025.
REUTERS
NO SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
In an internal memo on Monday, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance faults and that all required maintenance had been carried out.
The AAIB's preliminary report had no safety recommendations for Boeing or engine manufacturer GE.
After the report was released, the US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing privately issued notifications that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe, a document seen by Reuters showed and four sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The circumstantial evidence increasingly indicates that a crew member flipped the engine fuel switches, Nance said, given there was 'no other rationale explanation' that was consistent with the information released to date.
6 Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance faults.
AFP via Getty Images
Nonetheless, investigators 'still have to dig into all the factors' and rule out other possible contributing factors which would take time, he said.
Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, and under international rules, a final report is expected within a year of an accident.
The Air India crash has rekindled debate over adding flight deck cameras, known as cockpit image recorders, on airliners.
Nance said investigators likely would have benefited greatly from having video footage of the cockpit during the Air India flight.
6 Rescue team members work as smoke rises at the crash site where an Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025.
REUTERS
6 The Air India crash killed 260 people aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
REUTERS
Air India has faced additional scrutiny on other fronts after the crash.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said this month it plans to investigate its budget airline, Air India Express, after Reuters reported the carrier did not follow a directive to change engine parts of an Airbus A320 in a timely manner and falsified records to show compliance.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'You were roarsome!' and 'Queens of Europe'
Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox. Related Internet Links Daily Express Daily Mail Daily Mirror Daily Star Daily Telegraph Financial Times Guardian Independent Metro Sun The i Times
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
I tried Gordon Ramsay's favorite 10-minute pasta, and now I know why he makes it every week
I tried Gordon Ramsay's 10-minute pasta, which he makes for his family every week. The dish has a turkey and leek sauce and is topped with crispy sage breadcrumbs. Ramsay's delicious pasta was light and bright — perfect for a midweek pick-me-up. From his 15-minute Bolognese to his 10-minute bacon cheeseburger, Gordon Ramsay has never let me down when I need a fast recipe. So, I was ecstatic when I learned that the Michelin-starred chef has an entire cookbook dedicated to dishes that can be made in 10 minutes flat. I'm always looking for quick and easy recipes to save time during the busy workweek, so I knew I had to try this pasta dish. Gordon Ramsay makes this 10-minute pasta for his family every week. This turkey and leek pasta with crispy sage breadcrumbs is featured in "Ramsay in 10," which came out in October 2021. "For a change, skip the Bolognese and make this creamy turkey and leek sauce in a fraction of the time instead," Ramsay writes in the description. "It might just become a regular midweek family meal, as it has at my house." Ramsay's 10-minute pasta includes turkey, breadcrumbs, and leeks. To make Ramsay's 10-minute pasta for four, you'll need: 17 ounces of fresh penne or fusilli pasta 14 ounces of ground turkey ¾ cup of heavy cream 4 sage leaves 4 regular shallots (or 2 banana shallots) 3 garlic cloves 2 leeks 1 lemon A handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for serving) To make the breadcrumbs for the pasta, you'll need: 6 tablespoons of fresh breadcrumbs 2 sage leaves 2 tablespoons of olive oil Ramsay notes in his cookbook that the breadcrumbs are optional, but I recommend taking the extra step. It was my first time making fresh breadcrumbs, and it couldn't have been easier. But feel free to play around with the ingredients depending on your preferences. Ramsay said this dish also works great with ground chicken or sausage meat; the sage can easily be swapped for thyme, parsley, or tarragon; and any shape of fresh or dried pasta will do. Before I started cooking, I needed to prep. First, I brought a saucepan of salted water to a boil so it'd be ready for the pasta in a few minutes. Then, per Ramsay's recipe, I peeled and grated my shallots and garlic. If the handheld grater proves tricky — and risky for your fingers — feel free to use a knife to finish mincing the veggies. After grating my shallots and garlic, I finely sliced my leeks. I should note that Ramsay recommends prepping your shallots and garlic while the olive oil is heating up in the pan and slicing your leeks right before you add the pasta. But I'm quite slow at chopping veggies, so I got my prep out of the way first so I wouldn't be stressed about burning anything. I also let my leek slices soak in a bowl of cold water to ensure they were fully clean. The recipe took me a tad longer than 10 minutes, but if you're confident in your chopping speed, feel free to take Ramsay's lead. I also prepped my fresh breadcrumbs. I simply tore two slices of bread into pieces and threw them into the food processor. I placed my Dutch oven over medium-high heat and added two tablespoons of olive oil. Then, I added my shallots and garlic to the pan. I allowed the shallots and garlic to cook for two minutes, stirring regularly. If you don't have a Dutch oven handy, Ramsay notes that this recipe also works with a heavy-based frying pan or a skillet. Once the two minutes were up, I threw in the sage leaves and turkey. I broke the turkey up with a wooden spoon and allowed it to cook for three to four minutes, until the meat was lightly browned. While the turkey was cooking, I added my leeks to the boiling water. I let the leeks cook for one minute, per Ramsay's instructions. Then, I threw in the penne. I stirred to separate the pasta and allowed the penne to cook until it was al dente. Since I chose penne, my pasta didn't cook in the speedy two minutes Ramsay recommends for fusilli. But just follow the instructions on your box and the noodles will taste great. While my pasta was cooking, I added the cream to my turkey in the other pan. I stirred to combine everything together and allowed my sauce to come to a boil. I reduced the sauce to a simmer until I was ready to serve. Dinner was almost ready! Then, I moved on to the crispy sage breadcrumbs. I placed a frying pan over medium heat and drizzled some olive oil. Then, I added two sage leaves, which I had finely chopped. I cooked the breadcrumbs until they were crisp and golden brown. This happens very quickly, so make sure to watch the pan carefully so they don't burn. I drained my pasta and leeks and added the penne to the sauce. Ramsay recommends saving two to three tablespoons of the pasta water and throwing it in the sauce as well. Then, I added the finely chopped parsley leaves, along with some lemon zest. I also added some salt and pepper before giving everything a big stir. I topped everything off with the sage breadcrumbs. After I added the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and drizzle of olive oil that Ramsay recommends, I stepped back and admired my pasta. The dish looked bright and inviting, thanks to the pops of color from the parsley and breadcrumbs, and I loved seeing so many different textures meld together. Plus, it smelled absolutely delicious. It was time to dig in. Ramsay's 10-minute pasta took me a couple of extra minutes, but the final result was worth it. I don't usually go for poultry with my pasta, so I was skeptical when making the turkey sauce. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved Ramsay's pasta. The turkey and leek sauce is light but packed with so much flavor. The leeks add a hint of lovely sweetness, and the lemon brightens each bite. The contrasting textures of the crispy sage breadcrumbs and the creamy sauce also make a fantastic team. I don't usually crave a big meal on a weeknight, so I love that this pasta makes dinner interesting without being too heavy. Whether you're longing for a quick weeknight dish or just want a light and bright recipe, Ramsay's favorite 10-minute pasta will satisfy all your cravings. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
'Conflicted' mum considers giving up £70k job as maternity leave comes to an end
A mother has admitted to feeling "conflicted" about returning to her £ 70,000-a-year job after having her second child. Although it would mean a "big financial hit," she was "struggling to see the benefits" of returning to work when her maternity leave ended. Despite having childcare arrangements "in place", she was loving the idea of being around her kids more. READ MORE: Judge tells lying mum 'your decision to fall pregnant was silly' Taking to Mumsnet to share her dilemma, she said: "This is my second mat leave with my baby. My older child is 4 years old and starting school next year. "I love spending time with both of them. However, my older child is in preschool term time only. "My maternity leave is coming to an end soon, and I am feeling so conflicted about going back, though I was always clear that I'd go back. "I got this job after working for 15 years and it's a good role for my future and career path. "I will also be finishing a degree from work soon when I go back and it will be helpful for my career. "But, at this point, I am struggling to see all these benefits when I think about going back to work." The mum continued: "I love the convenience of being at home around kids and picking them up from preschool, taking them to parks etc. "Husband works full time and doesn't take much time off due to being self-employed. "I am on £70k, hence giving up my job would mean a big financial hit. "Baby would be going to a childminder who is 5 mins walk from our home, so she won't be far. "I am feeling very conflicted still despite having all arrangements in place. Any advice is appreciated." One supportive comment read: "It's really hard. I actually found returning from second mat leave even harder than first time round. "Could you explore flexible working requests/or part-time at all? That might make the balance feel more appropriate." The mum replied: "I will be going back to only 2 days a week for couple of months. "And I can work flexibly. Still, finding it bit hard to think about going back." A second forum user added: "Going back to work was definitely the hardest thing for me, and I still don't have the balance down yet (house work has definitely been taking a hit)."
