Air India crash report reveals chilling exchange between pilots
A chilling conversation in the cockpit between two pilots moments before the Air India crash has been revealed in a new report.
India's Aircraft Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) released its initial report last night, a month after the tragedy in Ahmedabad that left 242 people on the flight dead and another 29 on the ground.
Recovered black box data confirmed the aircraft began its rapid descent within a minute of departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, causing it to crash into a building housing doctors at the BJ Medical College and Civil Hospital.
Investigators now believe switches controlling the fuel supply to both engines were mistakenly turned off shortly after take-off, causing both engines to lose power and triggering the devastating crash.
The report states: 'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.
'At about 08:09:05 UTC, one of the pilots transmitted 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY'. The ATCO enquired about the call sign. ATCO did not get any response but observed the aircraft crashing outside the airport boundary and activated the emergency response.'
The Mirror reports that the preliminary findings primarily focus on the new detail that switches had been turned off after take-off, resulting in an apparent loss of thrust after reaching only 625 feet.
The AAIB's preliminary findings also confirmed there was 'no bird activity' around Ahmedabad at the time of the accident, ruling out the theory of a bird strike to both engines.
It reads: 'No significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path. The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall.'
Describing the damage to the Boeing 747 Dreamliner and the buildings on the ground, the report concludes: 'The Aircraft was destroyed due to impact with the buildings on the ground and subsequent fire. A total of five buildings were impacted and suffered major structural and fire damages.
'As the aircraft was losing altitude, it initially made contact with a series of trees and an incineration chimney inside the Army Medical Corps compound before impacting the northeast wall of the first building.
'As the aircraft moved forward, it continued fragmenting and collided with other structures and vegetation. The impact witness marks on the building and airplane indicated a likely nose-up attitude (about 8°) and wings level.'
British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, was the only passenger to survive the crash, miraculously managing to walk away from the wreckage despite his injuries. He has since given a statement to investigators, the conclusion of the report states.
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Daily Mail
9 minutes ago
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Grieving mother of Air India crash victim is dealt agonising blow after being sent the WRONG body
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Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MUM whose son died in the Air India plane crash has been left horrified after authorities sent the wrong body back to the UK. Amanda Donaghey, 66, was left heartbroken and appalled after DNA evidence proved Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek's casket actually belonged to another victim. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 DNA evidence proved Air India crash passenger Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek's casket actually belonged to another victim Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Fiongal and husband Jamie filmed themselves waiting to board the doomed plane Credit: Instagram 6 All but one passenger died when the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad, India Credit: Reuters Fiongal, 39, had been to India celebrating his wedding anniversary with husband, Jamie, 45. 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Brit families previously slammed the chaotic ground operation following the horror smash on June 12. One relative reportedly blasted the "lack of transparency and oversight in the identification and handling of remains". 6 Brit families previously slammed the chaotic ground operation following the horror smash on June 12 Credit: AFP 6 Vishwash Ramesh was the sole survivor of the Air India crash Credit: Dan Charity
