A preliminary investigation into the Air India Flight 171 crash which claimed 260 lives in June has uncovered alarming details. Just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad, the fuel-control switches on the 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner suddenly moved to the “cut-off” position, halting fuel supply to the engines and leading to total power loss. This maneuver, usually done post-landing, has raised significant questions among investigators and aviation experts.
The Air India Boeing 787 was airborne for less than 40 seconds before crashing into a densely populated area in Ahmedabad. Investigators review the wreckage and cockpit recorders to understand the cause of the disaster. The investigation, led by Indian authorities along with experts from Boeing, Air India, and international regulatory bodies, has highlighted several intriguing points.
The fuel-control switches are designed to prevent accidental activation. It requires pulling up to unlock before flipping, a safety feature dating back to the 1950s. A Canada-based air accidents investigator commented on the near impossibility of both switches being pulled with one hand, suggesting the incident was unlikely to be accidental.
South Australian Aviation Museum director, Dr. Caroline Mercier, examines factors that could have contributed to the “very surprising” incident. The investigation report underscores the need for a thorough review of cockpit communications post-incident. Experts, such as Peter Goelz, emphasize the significance of better voice identification and a detailed cockpit transcript to understand what transpired.
The investigation also scrutinizes a bulletin from the US Federal Aviation Administration noting some earlier Boeing 737 models had their fuel control switches installed without the locking mechanism engaged. Although the bulletin wasn’t deemed a safety concern, it has prompted further inquiry into whether the same issues could apply to the Boeing 787 model.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2gy78gpnqo
