Air India can't cause such negligence: Cabin crew's mother on AAIB preliminary report
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Pramila Patil, mother of crew member Maithili Patil , who died in the ill-fated Air India plane crash on June 12, reacted to the preliminary report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and said Air India can't cause such negligence.The Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, resulting in the deaths of 260 individuals, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground."I can't say anything about it because we don't have much knowledge about it. We are villagers. But I know that the government will handle it. I can guarantee that Air India can't cause such negligence. They took good care of my daughter for two years..." Patil told ANI.On Friday, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released the preliminary report into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171.The report outlines a harrowing sequence of events that unfolded within 90 seconds of takeoff, as both engines of the aircraft shut down unexpectedly during the initial climb, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust and rapid descent.Flight data recovered from the aircraft's Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) revealed that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were inadvertently moved from RUN to CUTOFF, one after the other within a 1-second interval, at an altitude just moments after liftoff. One pilot was heard asking the other, "Why did you cut off?" to which the response was, "I did not." This uncommanded shutdown triggered the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), and the aircraft began losing altitude almost immediately, unable to sustain powered flight.According to the AAIB, the pilots re-engaged the fuel switches in an attempt to relight both engines. Engine 1 showed signs of recovering thrust, but Engine 2 failed to stabilise. The aircraft, which had briefly reached a speed of 180 knots, was already descending and failed to regain altitude. The final distress call -- a "MAYDAY" -- was transmitted at 08:09 UTC, just seconds before the aircraft crashed into residential buildings outside the airport perimeter.
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Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Stay focused, avoid speculation after AI171 crash: Air India CEO to staff
Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson on Monday urged employees to remain focused on their daily responsibilities and support the bereaved families, cautioning them against being distracted by a 'continuing cycle of speculation and sensational headlines' following the preliminary report into the crash of flight AI171. His message came two days after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary findings into the June 12 crash near Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people, including passengers, crew, and individuals on the ground. Crash report leaves pilots rattled The report has unsettled many Air India employees, particularly pilots. Some raised concerns about the report's vague language, while others were alarmed by speculation, including suggestions of pilot suicide. Wilson acknowledged the emotional toll of the past month, describing it as a 'tragic event' and a time during which 'not a moment has gone by without us thinking of the passengers, friends, colleagues and wider community who were lost or injured.' Speculation intensifies despite lack of definitive cause Wilson noted that media speculation had intensified after the report's release. 'Over the past 30 days, we've seen an ongoing cycle of theories, allegations, rumours and sensational headlines, many of which have later been disproven,' he said. To counter misinformation, he highlighted key technical findings from the AAIB report. 'The preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines, and that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed. There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the take-off roll. The pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status,' Wilson stated. He reminded staff that every Boeing 787 in Air India's fleet was inspected under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)'s oversight shortly after the crash, and all were found fit for service. 'We continue to perform all necessary checks, as we will any new ones that authorities may suggest,' he added. Avoid premature conclusions, CEO says Wilson emphasised that the preliminary report had not determined the cause of the crash or made any recommendations. 'The Preliminary Report identified no cause nor made any recommendations, so I urge everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over,' he said. 'We must nevertheless remain focused on our task and be true to the values that have powered Air India's transformation journey over the past three years – integrity, excellence, customer focus, innovation and teamwork,' Wilson said. Supporting the bereaved remains top priority He concluded by reiterating the airline's immediate priorities: 'Let us not be diverted from what are our top priorities: standing by the bereaved and those injured, working together as a team, and delivering a safe and reliable air travel experience to our customers around the world.' Fuel control switch movement under probe According to the AAIB's preliminary findings, both engine fuel control switches on the Boeing 787-8 aircraft transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' within three seconds of take-off, resulting in a complete loss of thrust from both engines. These switches are designed to manually stop the fuel supply to the engines and require deliberate action to move, raising questions about whether they were manipulated by the pilots, failed mechanically, or were affected by an electronic malfunction. The report also included a brief exchange from the cockpit voice recorder. One pilot is heard asking the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the second responds that he did not. Moments later, a mayday call was issued before the aircraft crashed into a hostel building near Ahmedabad's BJ Medical College.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
AAIB report found no mechanical or maintenance issues with Boeing 787-8 plane: Air India CEO Campbell Wilson
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Monday said that the AAIB report on the plane crash in Ahmedabad found no mechanical or maintenance issues with aircraft or engines, adding that the initial report identified no cause nor made any recommendations. Wilson said the pilots passed mandatory pre-flight breath analyser; no observations pertaining to their medical status, citing the AAIB report. "We will continue to co-operate with the investigators to ensure they have everything they need to conduct a thorough and comprehensive enquiry," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo Further, Wilson said out of an abundance of caution and under the oversight of regulator DGCA, every Boeing 787 aircraft operating in our fleet was checked within days of the accident and all were found fit for service. "We continue to perform all necessary checks, as we will any new ones that authorities may suggest," he added. Live Events He also urged everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions. The AAIB released its preliminary findings into the crash of Air India flight AI 171 , a Boeing 787-8 aircraft that crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12 en route to London Gatwick. The incident claimed 270 lives, including almost everyone onboard, after the plane collided with a medical college hostel seconds after takeoff. The report does not recommend any immediate action against the aircraft or engine manufacturers. Air India crash report: Key findings The aircraft had 54,200 kg of fuel onboard; take-off weight of 2,13,401 kg was within permissible limits. The plane lifted off at 13:08:39 IST; engine fuel control switches were turned off with a 1-second gap, then turned back on. At 13:09:05 IST, a pilot transmitted: 'Mayday, mayday, mayday.' No response was received by ATC, which then saw the aircraft crash. Wreckage was documented using drones and relocated to a secure area near the airport. Both engines were recovered and placed in quarantine inside a hangar. Fuel samples taken from the bowsers and tanks tested satisfactory at DGCA's lab.
Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- Indian Express
No ‘mechanical, maintenance issues' found in Boeing aircraft: Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on initial probe report
Two days after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) intial probe report, Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson Monday said it does not mention any cause of the crash on June 12 near Ahmedabad airport, and has not found 'mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines'. Every Boeing 787 operating in fleet checked within days of the crash and found fit for service, Wilson said, in a message to Air India staff on the airline's approach of 'abundance of caution'. All mandatory maintenance tasks including the pilots clearing the pre-flight breathe analyser had been completed, he added. 'There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the take-off roll. The pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status,' he said The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday released its preliminary report on the crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 plane that killed 260 people on June 12. The aircraft, which was operating the flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed into a building soon after takeoff. Emphasising that the preliminary report identified no cause nor made any recommendations, Wilson urged everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over. 'We will continue to co-operate with the investigators to ensure they have everything they need to conduct a thorough and comprehensive enquiry,' he said. Further, Wilson said out of an abundance of caution and under the oversight of regulator DGCA, every Boeing 787 aircraft operating in our fleet was checked within days of the accident and all were found fit for service. 'We continue to perform all necessary checks, as we will any new ones that authorities may suggest,' he added.
