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IOL News
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Tesla marks India entry with first showroom
Tesla unveiled its first showroom in India on July 15, marking its entry into the world's most populous country, as Elon Musk's electric vehicle company seeks new customers amid sagging sales in the United States and Europe. Image: Punit PARANJPE / AFP Tesla unveiled its first showroom in India on Tuesday, marking its entry into the world's most populous country, as Elon Musk's electric vehicle company seeks new customers amid sagging sales in the United States and Europe. The store opened its doors to select visitors after its inauguration by Maharashtra state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in India's financial capital Mumbai. Tesla has for years signalled its interest in India but held back due to the country's steep tariffs on electric vehicles. Musk, who once described India as having "more promise than any large country", has also criticised its import duties, calling them among the "highest in the world". New Delhi has offered to cut import taxes on electric vehicles for global automakers only if they commit to investing hundreds of millions of dollars and make cars locally. Tesla has yet to announce plans to set up a plant in India. For now, local media reports say, the company will likely sell cars imported from China, with deliveries projected to start from late August. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Its Model Y variants start from an on-road price of around $70,000 in India, according to its website, compared with a US price of $37,490 after a $7,500 federal tax credit. Tesla's India debut comes at a critical time for the company, which is seeing demand wane for its cars in countries around the world. The recent slump in Tesla's sales partly reflects the highly competitive nature of the EV market, which the company once dominated but now also features BYD and other low-cost Chinese players. While Tesla is looking to tap the world's third-biggest car market, experts say it is unlikely to see huge volumes in the short-term due to the nascent nature of India's EV industry and the hefty price tag of its vehicles. India's EV market is fast-growing but remains small, with automakers reporting sales of around 100,000 vehicles in 2024 or less than three percent of total car sales. Soumen Mandal, a senior analyst at Counterpoint, said the high price tag will likely place it out of the price range of most Indian customers and see it compete against offerings from luxury carmakers instead. "We don't expect Tesla to play the volume game right away given the price tag," Mandal told AFP. "We project 500-700 units sold in initial months and then that to taper off to 200-300 (per month)." India is currently negotiating a trade deal with the United States, including a potential reduction in tariffs on automobiles. In February, Musk held a one-on-one meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington. AFP
Toronto Sun
14-07-2025
- General
- Toronto Sun
Pilot groups reject claims of human error in Air India crash
The tail section of the crashed Air India Boeing protruding from a building in Ahmedabad. A preliminary report found the fuel switches had been turned off Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP/File New Delhi (AFP) — Two major commercial pilots' associations have rejected claims human error caused an Air India crash that killed 260 people after a preliminary investigation report found the plane's engine fuel switches had been turned off. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The report, issued Saturday by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), 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. No more detail about the cockpit dialogue between the pilots was revealed. The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) said it was 'deeply disturbed by speculative narratives… particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide.' 'There is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage,' it said in a statement Sunday, adding, 'it is deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved.' 'To casually suggest pilot suicide without verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession,' it said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The initial probe finding sparked speculation by several independent aviation experts that deliberate or inadvertant pilot action may have caused the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to crash soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad in western India. The ICPA was referring to a number of aviation experts suggesting engine fuel control switches can only be moved deliberately and manually. The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India), another pilots' body with 800 members, also accused the probe agency of 'secrecy' surrounding the investigation, saying 'suitably qualified personnel' were not involved in it. 'We feel that the investigation is being driven in a direction presuming the guilt of pilots and we strongly object to this line of thought,' ALPA India president Sam Thomas said in a statement issued on Saturday. ALPA — which claims 100,000 members worldwide — also requested to the AAIB that it be included as 'observers so as to provide the requisite transparency in the investigations'. The crash killed all but one of the 242 people on board as well as 19 people on the ground. Uncategorized Toronto & GTA Editorial Cartoons Golf Columnists
Herald Sun
12-07-2025
- General
- Herald Sun
Air India flight had fuel supply ‘shut off' to both engines
Don't miss out on the headlines from World. Followed categories will be added to My News. 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
Sinar Daily
16-06-2025
- Sinar Daily
Relatives lament slow support, wait for remains after India crash
Health officials have said the process of matching blood samples with the DNA of victims will be slow, with just 47 identified by Sunday evening. 16 Jun 2025 02:34pm Workers clear debris from the Air India flight crash site at a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2025. The death toll from the fiery crash of a London-bound passenger jet in an Indian city climbed to 279 on June 14, as officials sought to match the DNA of victims with their grieving relatives. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP) AHMEDABAD - More than three days after giving a DNA sample, Imtiyaz Ali is enduring an anguished wait to receive the remains of his brother who died in the Air India crash. "My 72 hours are over, but I've not heard from them so far," Ali said in Ahmedabad, where relatives of victims have gathered since the air disaster. Police personnel inspect the crash site of Air India flight 171 at a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2025. The death toll from the fiery crash of a London-bound passenger jet in an Indian city climbed to 279 on June 14, as officials sought to match the DNA of victims with their grieving relatives. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP) All but one of the 242 people on board the plane died on Thursday when it slammed into a residential area, where at least 38 others were killed. Health officials have said the process of matching blood samples with the DNA of victims will be slow, with just 47 identified by Sunday evening. Ali, whose brother Javed was killed alongside his wife and two children, said he understood the delay and was more frustrated with the airline's response. "With Air India, the next day after this accident they should have appointed whoever they needed to ensure everything is available to us," such as help with paperwork, he told AFP on Sunday. "Whatever it took, they should have done it within hours of the accident," he said, a day after being appointed a support person by the airline. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said "over 200 trained caregivers are now in place, with each family assigned dedicated assistance", in a video message on Saturday. The airline directed AFP to earlier statements about its response to the crash when asked to comment on the criticism from families. 'What happens next?' While some funerals have already been held, the majority of grieving relatives are still waiting for a DNA match before remains are handed over from the mortuary. Rinal Christian, whose elder brother was on the flight, said her family keeps returning to the hospital but they have been told to wait. "They said it would take 48 hours. But it's been four days and we haven't received any response," the 23-year-old told AFP. Her brother Lawrence Christian had travelled to Ahmedabad from his home in London after his father died. "After my father, my brother was the sole breadwinner of the family. I'm still studying, my mother doesn't work, and we have our grandmother too. So what happens next?" asked his sister. Air India and its parent company Tata Group have announced financial aid, amounting to $146,000 for each family, but Christian said she has not heard from the airline. With some in Ahmedabad mourning those who supported their families, parents are also confronting the loss of children. Suresh Patni, a driver, had just dropped his teenage son off at his wife's tea stall when the plane hit. She was severely injured, with burns and nerve damage, and Patni has been unable to tell her their son was killed. "She won't be able to handle it... I've already lost one, I can't risk losing her too," he said. While watching over his wife, Patni is among those still waiting for his son's remains to be found. "As soon as our number comes, they'll call us, ask us to come, and then hand over the body." - AFP
eNCA
14-06-2025
- General
- eNCA
Death toll in India plane crash rises to at least 279
The death toll from the fiery crash of a London-bound passenger jet in an Indian city climbed to 279 on Saturday as officials sought to match the DNA of victims with their grieving relatives. The Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner issued a mayday call shortly before it crashed around lunchtime on Thursday, bursting into a fireball as it hit residential buildings. A police source said on Saturday that 279 bodies had been found at the crash site in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, making it one of the worst plane disasters of the 21st century. "Nobody can fill the void left by loss," said Imtiyaz Ali, whose younger brother boarded the plane. "I can't even begin to explain what's going on inside me," he told AFP. There was just one survivor out of 242 passengers and crew on board the jet when it crashed, leaving the tailpiece of the aircraft jutting out of a hostel for medical staff. Emergency services kept up their recovery efforts on Saturday, extracting a badly burnt body from the tailpiece before cranes were used to remove the wreckage. At least 38 people were killed on the ground. "I saw my child for the first time in two years, it was a great time," said Anil Patel, whose son and daughter-in-law had surprised him with a visit before boarding the Air India flight. "And now, there is nothing," he said, breaking down in tears. "Whatever the gods wanted has happened." - Search for black box - Distraught relatives of passengers have been providing DNA samples in Ahmedabad, with some having to fly to India to help with the process. The first body of a passenger to be handed over to relatives was placed in a white coffin on Saturday before being transported in an ambulance with a police escort, footage from the state government showed. AFP | Punit PARANJPE Air India said there were 169 Indian passengers, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian on board the flight, as well as 12 crew members. The official casualty number will not be finalised until the slow process of DNA identification is completed. Those killed ranged from a top politician to a teenage tea seller. The lone survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, said even he could not explain how he survived. "Initially, I too thought that I was about to die, but then I opened my eyes and realised that I was still alive," Ramesh, a British citizen, told national broadcaster DD News from his hospital bed. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said on Friday that a flight data recorder, or black box, had been recovered, saying it would "significantly aid" investigations. Forensic teams are still looking for the second black box as they probe why the plane lost height and crashed straight after takeoff. AFP | Punit PARANJPE The aviation minister said on Saturday that authorities "felt the need to do an extended surveillance of the Boeing 787 planes", with eight out of Air India's 34 Dreamliners inspected so far. Officials will take "whatever necessary steps are needed" to determine the cause of the disaster as soon as possible, he said. The US planemaker said it was in touch with Air India and stood "ready to support them" over the incident. A source close to the case said it was the first 787 Dreamliner crash.
