Air-India crash report clarifies a question and raises new ones

Air-India crash report clarifies a question and raises new ones

An official report on the The most deadliest flight accident in the past ten years has answered a decisive question, however, raises numerous more.

The flight accident of Air India ai171

a Preliminary report The Indian examination offices for flight accidents (aaib) showed that the fuel supply Drives were interrupted in the crucial minutes during the climb. The flight writer of the aircraft, also known as the "Black Box", showed that the plane had reached a speed of 180 knots when the fuel switches were switched to the "Cutoff" position within a second. This stopped the fuel flow.

unexplained discrepancies in the cockpit

An audio recording from the black box mentioned in the report shows that one of the pilots asks the other why he has passed the switches. The other pilot replies that he did not do this. The report does not specify which of the two pilots.

second later, the switches of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner were reallocated to restore fuel supply. Both engines could ignite again, but it was too late to prevent the dramatic crash of the aircraft.

inadequate information about the malfunctions

Although the report explains the basic reason for the crash, many questions remain unanswered. The results do not clarify how the fuel switches were deliberately or accidentally brought into the cutoff position during the flight, or whether a technical defect was responsible for it.

With the 787 Dreamliners from Boeing, the fuel switches between the pilot seats are located, directly behind the drawers. They are protected by a metal rod and have to be physically raised and pressed over a lock, which designed them so that they cannot be accidentally operated.

expert opinion on the causes of errors

Geoffrey Dell, an air safety expert who examined numerous flight accidents, is skeptical that both switches were accidentally operated. He expressed: "It is an at least two -step process for each switch. You have to pull the switch to yourself and then press down. You can't accidentally do that." In addition, he noticed that it was "bizarre" that a pilot would park the fuel for both engines immediately after lifting.

dell pointed out that the quick changeover of both switches within a second indicates that this was an action that is carried out at the end of the flight.

A possibility that the report is raising refers to an information bullet from the US Air Faa from 2018 to "deactivation of the backup for the fuel switch". However, since this was not considered unsafe, Air India did not carry out any inspections.

outlook on the further information

A complete report is imminent in a few months. India's Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu emphasized: "Let's not draw us in this phase in this phase." The Air India jet started on June 12th from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad and flown towards London Gatwick. There were 242 passengers and crew members on board, including 169 Indians, 53 British as well as seven Portuguese and a Canadian. Tragically only a passenger survived.

The 19 people died on the ground when the aircraft crashed in the dormitories of the BJ Medical College and Hospital. Air India has confirmed that you have received the report and will continue to work with the authorities during the investigation.

The reporting was supported by CNNS Alexandra Skores, Aaron Cooper and Hira Humayun.