Who turned off fuel control switch? Shocking information in preliminary investigation report

NEW DELHI: According to preliminary findings, the Ahmedabad-London Air India flight crashed seconds after take-off after the fuel flow to the engine was cut off. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recorded a tense conversation between chief pilot Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Clive Kunder. The CVR records show one of the pilots asking why he had cut off the fuel and the other pilot replying that he had not.

Both engines stopped because the fuel control switches had been moved from the 'run' position to the 'cutoff' position. When the pilots switched to the 'run' position within 10 seconds, the first engine was operational, but the second engine could not gain take-off capacity. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is investigating the incident, has made a preliminary assessment that this is the cause of the disaster that killed 260 people.

The 15-page report submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation was released yesterday. On June 12, Air India Flight 171 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, from Ahmedabad to London, crashed 32 seconds after takeoff.

Sabotage or failure?

 The switches for both engines are separate. They must be set manually. Boeing has a multiple protection system

 The US Federal Aviation Administration had warned in 2018 about the malfunction of the locking feature of the fuel control switches in the Boeing 737 series.

 The Boeing 787 aircraft that crashed has a similar switch system. It is possible that the fault of the switches will be checked before the final report.

 The digital engine control (FADEC) system is controlled by software. If a special command is injected into the internal network, it is a sabotage

 Was there any intervention by anyone, including maintenance and ground staff with access to the cockpit, engine, and maintenance panels?

 Was the wiring tampered with? Was the fuel switching system tampered with?

 Did anyone modify the plane's logic files and maintenance update scripts?

“The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error. We categorically reject this presumption and insist on a fair, fact-based inquiry." - Airline Pilots Association of India