&w=3840&q=100)
No action recommended yet, what all Air India crash probe panel investigated: xx pointsNo action recommended yet, what all Air India crash probe panel investigated: 10 points
Parts of an Air India plane that crashed on Thursday are seen on top of a building in Ahmedabad, India. AP
A preliminary report on the devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad revealed some of the key facts that were previously unknown in the case. The report noted that the fuel to the engines of the aircraft that crashed and killed 260 people last month appeared to be cut off seconds after the flight took off.
The flight AI171 crashed into a densely populated residential area in Ahmedabad on June 12. While 241 passengers onboard were killed, with just one survivor, the impact also led to the death of 19 other people on the ground, making it one of the most devastating aviation disasters in Indian history. It was the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which was bound for London, that crashed on the fateful day.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The report released by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that switches in the cockpit that controlled fuel moved to a 'cutoff' position and suggested that Boeing and engine maker GE had no apparent responsibility for the accident.
'The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots IAS [indicated airspeed] at about 08:08:42 UTC, and immediately thereafter, the engine 1 and engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 1 second," the report said. 'The engines N1 and N2 began to decrease from their takeoff values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off.' The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall.
With the preliminary report out, here are the 10 things that have been investigated in the case as of now:
10 things the Air India probe panel investigated in the preliminary report
The investigation of the wreckage site activities, including Drone photography/videography, has been completed. The wreckage has now been moved to a 'secure area near the airport'.
Both engines of the aircraft were retrieved from the wreckage site and quarantined at a hangar in the airport.
Components of interest for further investigation have been identified and quarantined as well.
Fuel Samples taken from the browsers and tanks used to refuel the aircraft were tested at the DGCA's Lab and found satisfactory.
A very limited number of fuel samples could be retrieved from the APU filter and Refuel/Jettison valve of the left wing. The testing of these samples will be done at a suitable facility capable of carrying out the test with the limited available quantity.
The EAFR data downloaded from the forward EAFR is being analysed in detail.
The investigators have obtained all the statements of the witnesses and the surviving passenger.
Complete analysis of postmortem reports of the crew and the passengers is being undertaken to corroborate aeromedical findings with the engineering assessment.
Apart from this, additional details are being gathered based on the initial leads.
At this stage of the investigation, there are no recommended actions for B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers.
The report concluded by stating that the investigation is still ongoing and the authorities would further review and examine additional evidence, records and information that are currently being sought from the stakeholders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
31 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Flying Beast, aka Gaurav Taneja, analyses how Air India's 11A passenger survived crash, says he was probably not wearing a seat belt
The Air India crash in Ahemdabad that resulted in the deaths of 260 people is under investigation, and recently, a 15-page preliminary report investigating the crash was released. Only one passenger on the flight, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, survived the crash. He was seated on the seat 11A. On Saturday, YouTuber Flying Beast, aka Gaurav Taneja, shared a video discussing his theories as to what could have saved the passenger's as he spoke to another pilot, Capt Amit Singh, founder of Safety Matters. Soon after the crash, videos of Vishwash walking out from a cloud of fire and smoke were widely shared online. The videos showed him walking without having sustained any serious injuries. Gaurav shared that in 1998, a Thai Airways crash also resulted in the deaths of all souls on board, but passenger on 11A survived. 'People are ready to pay extra premium for 11A because they believe that this is the safest seat,' he said. Gaurav shared his theories about what might have saved the passenger's life. He said that the lucky passenger was either not wearing a seat, or their beat was not buckled properly and unbuckled as soon as the aircraft suffered major impact. Gaurav shared that unlike cars, planes have two-point seat belts, as they are buckled across one's pelvic region. In cars, for example, the belt also covers one's torso, so in case of an impact, the body stays stuck to the back of the seat and does not fall in the forward direction. In an aircraft, however, since only the pelvic region is secured, the upper body and the lower body gets pushed in the front direction resulting in severe injuries in one's hip area. He also suggested that because of the material of the belt, one's internal organs can also get damaged. ALSO READ | Ronit Roy cries as he recalls surviving hunger and poverty, remembers kind dhaba owner who gave him free daal when all he could afford was onions: 'Aapka daal ka din hai' He shared that since the passenger of 11A had 6ft of empty space ahead of him, there was enough room to slow down his forward momentum. Gaurav mentioned that because the placement of the seat is in a spot that is 'located on top of the strongest portion of the aircraft,' he could survive the impact. He said that in cases where one survives a plane crash but is still seated on their seat with a belt on, it is difficult for them to escape as their pelvic injuries might not allow them to walk, and spending more time in a plane with smoke and fire could be fatal anyway. Comparing the different health and safety standards for food in India, the US and Europe, Gaurav said that flight safety standards are also possibly different in India and abroad.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
"Who said that..." Priyank Kharge Brushes Off Karnataka CM Change speculation
'Why Did You Cut Off?': Air India Pilots' Last Words Before Mayday Call |AI 171 Crash |Cockpit Audio The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report into the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people in Ahmedabad on June 12. It also published findings from the cockpit voice recordings. As per the report, one pilot was heard asking, 'Why did you cut off fuel?' to which the other replied, 'I did not do so.' The exchange took place moments after both engine fuel cutoff switches transitioned from 'Run' to 'Cutoff.' Watch this video to know more. 5.4K views | 3 hours ago
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
32 minutes ago
- First Post
Turning off fuel switches in cockpit shut Air India plane engine: How could this have happened?
Engine fuel control switches are at the centre of the investigation into last month's Air India plane crash, the preliminary report has revealed. After the aircraft reached its top speed of 180 knots IAS, both engine fuel cutoff switches moved from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' within a second. The plane started losing altitude before it could clear the airport's boundary wall. The pilots then switched both controls back to 'RUN', but one engine failed to stabilise, and they had to send out a distress call read more The accident killed at least 260 people, including 19 people on the ground. PTI/File Photo Engine fuel control switches are at the centre of the investigation into last month's Air India plane crash that killed 260 people, according to the preliminary report released on Saturday. The report found that just seconds after takeoff, the fuel control switches on the Boeing 787's engines were turned off for a short time, cutting off the fuel supply. As per the initial findings shared by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on July 12, one of the pilots is heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other, 'Why did you cut off the fuel?' The second pilot responded by saying he did not. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These switches, though small in size, are crucial for managing the aircraft's engines. Even an unintentional movement can lead to major problems. In this explainer, we look at what fuel control switches do, why they are important and what the investigation says about how they may have affected the flight. Let's find out: What are fuel switches? Fuel switches control the flow of fuel into an aircraft's engines. Pilots use them to start or stop the engines while on the ground, or to manually cut off or restart them if there is an engine issue during flight. According to aviation experts, it is unlikely that a pilot could move these switches by mistake, reports said. Thrust Lever Quadrant & Fuel Control Switch of the doomed Air India plane Each switch is protected by brackets on either side and fitted with a stop lock. This means the switch must be lifted before it can be moved between its two settings: RUN and CUTOFF. If a switch is moved, it would immediately cut off fuel to the engine, causing it to lose power. US aviation safety expert John Cox told Reuters that these switches and the valves they control are powered and wired separately. This system ensures that if a switch is used, it directly affects only the engine it is linked to. A pilot would need to use these switches during flight only if an engine failed or was damaged badly enough that stopping its fuel supply became necessary for safety, The Indian Express reported. Where are the fuel switches located? In a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the fuel switches are placed just beneath the engine thrust levers on the cockpit's centre console. Air India's Dreamliners, which are powered by GE engines, have two such switches, one for each engine. The switches are spring-loaded so they stay in place. They operate in two modes: RUN and CUTOFF. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD To shift a switch from RUN to CUTOFF, a pilot must first lift it and then move it. This added step helps prevent it from being moved by accident. What happens when fuel cutoff switches flip from run to cutoff? Soon after takeoff, both fuel switches were found to have flipped from run to cutoff within a second of each other. The preliminary report does not explain how this could have happened while the plane was in the air. The report said that if the switches are moved from cutoff to run during flight, each engine's system begins an automatic restart, reintroducing fuel and ignition to recover thrust. Aviation experts have said that it is highly unlikely for a pilot to move these switches by accident, Reuters reported. 'If they were moved because of a pilot, why?' US aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse told the news agency. According to US aviation expert John Nance, the switches flipped one after the other, a second apart, about the time needed to move one and then the other. He added that a pilot would almost never switch them off during the early climb. Flipping the switches to cutoff causes the engines to shut down almost immediately. This action is typically taken after landing when the aircraft has reached its gate or in emergencies like an engine fire. The report does not mention any such emergency during the flight. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the crash site, both switches were found in the run position. The report also mentioned signs that the engines had restarted shortly before the aircraft hit the ground. Did a pilot cut off fuel? Switching the fuel cutoff to 'cut-off' is normally done only after the plane has landed. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other, 'Why did you cut off?', to which the reply was a denial. The Air India flight that crashed on June 12 in Ahmedabad was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. Reuters/File Photo The recording does not clearly show who said what. At the time, the co-pilot was in control of the aircraft, while the captain was monitoring. Investigators pointed out that the switches are fitted with lever-locks to prevent unintentional use. These must be pulled up before being moved. A Canada-based air accident investigator told BBC, 'It would be almost impossible to pull both switches with a single movement of one hand, and this makes accidental deployment unlikely.' The Air India flight that crashed on June 12 in Ahmedabad was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The accident killed at least 260 people, including 19 people on the ground. Just one passenger survived, making it one of the worst air disasters in India's history. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
