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Business Standard
4 days ago
- General
- Business Standard
What are engine fuel switches at the centre of Air India crash probe
According to the flight recorder, a few seconds after takeoff, switches for both engines transitioned to 'CUTOFF' from 'RUN' one after another with a time gap of one second Reuters NEW DELHI A cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the Air India flight that crashed last month supports the view that the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines, said a source briefed on US officials' early assessment of evidence. Below are a few facts about engine fuel switches, their functions in the aircraft and their movements on the Air India flight. What are fuel switches? They are switches that regulate fuel flow into a plane's engines. They are used by pilots to start or shut down engines on the ground or to manually shut down or restart engines if an engine failure occurs during a flight. Aviation experts say a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches that feed the engines. But if moved, the effect would be immediate, cutting off engine power. There are independent power systems and wiring for the fuel cutoff switches and the fuel valves controlled by those switches, according to US aviation safety expert John Cox. Where are the fuel switches located? The two fuel control switches on a Boeing 787, in Air India's case equipped with two GE engines, are located below the thrust levers. The switches are spring-loaded to remain in position. To change one from run to cutoff, a pilot has to first pull the switch up and then move it from run to cutoff or vice versa. There are two modes: 'CUTOFF' and 'RUN'. What happened on the fatal Air India flight? According to the flight recorder, a few seconds after takeoff, switches for both engines transitioned to 'CUTOFF' from 'RUN' one after another with a time gap of one second. As a result, the engines began to lose power. One pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. "The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report said. The report did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer. The first officer was at the controls of the 787 and asked the captain why he moved the fuel switches into a position that starved the engines of fuel and requested that he restore the fuel flow, the source briefed on US officials' early assessment told Reuters. Both switches were flipped back to 'RUN', according to the preliminary report, and found in the 'RUN' position at the crash site. When fuel control switches are moved from 'CUTOFF' to 'RUN' while the aircraft is in flight, each engine's control system automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction, the report said. "No sane pilot would ever turn those switches off in flight," especially as the plane is just starting to climb, US aviation safety expert John Nance said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Star
4 days ago
- General
- The Star
Explainer-What are the fuel switches at the centre of the Air India crash probe?
FILE PHOTO: Tail of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building after the incident in Ahmedabad, India, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo NEW DELHI (Reuters) -A cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the Air India flight that crashed last month supports the view that the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines, said a source briefed on U.S. officials' early assessment of evidence. Below are a few facts about engine fuel switches, their functions in the aircraft and their movements on the Air India flight. WHAT ARE FUEL SWITCHES? They are switches that regulate fuel flow into a plane's engines. They are used by pilots to start or shut down engines on the ground or to manually shut down or restart engines if an engine failure occurs during a flight. Aviation experts say a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches that feed the engines. But if moved, the effect would be immediate, cutting off engine power. There are independent power systems and wiring for the fuel cutoff switches and the fuel valves controlled by those switches, according to U.S. aviation safety expert John Cox. WHERE ARE THE FUEL SWITCHES LOCATED? The two fuel control switches on a Boeing 787, in Air India's case equipped with two GE engines, are located below the thrust levers. The switches are spring-loaded to remain in position. To change one from run to cutoff, a pilot has to first pull the switch up and then move it from run to cutoff or vice versa. There are two modes: 'CUTOFF' and 'RUN'. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FATAL AIR INDIA FLIGHT? According to the flight recorder, a few seconds after takeoff, switches for both engines transitioned to 'CUTOFF' from 'RUN' one after another with a time gap of one second. As a result, the engines began to lose power. One pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. "The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report said. The report did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer. The first officer was at the controls of the 787 and asked the captain why he moved the fuel switches into a position that starved the engines of fuel and requested that he restore the fuel flow, the source briefed on U.S. officials' early assessment told Reuters. Both switches were flipped back to 'RUN', according to the preliminary report, and found in the 'RUN' position at the crash site. When fuel control switches are moved from 'CUTOFF' to 'RUN' while the aircraft is in flight, each engine's control system automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction, the report said. "No sane pilot would ever turn those switches off in flight," especially as the plane is just starting to climb, U.S. aviation safety expert John Nance said. (Reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram in New Delhi and Dan Catchpole in Seattle; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Explainer: What are the fuel switches at the centre of the Air India crash probe?
A cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the Air India flight that crashed last month indicates the captain cut the flow of fuel to the Boeing 787 jet's engines, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. Below are a few facts about engine fuel switches, their functions in the aircraft and their movements on the Air India flight. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Public Policy Product Management Operations Management Healthcare Degree Design Thinking Management PGDM others Data Analytics Data Science Technology Artificial Intelligence MCA Data Science Digital Marketing MBA Finance Project Management Cybersecurity Others CXO Leadership healthcare Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details WHAT ARE FUEL SWITCHES? They are switches that regulate fuel flow into a plane's engines. They are used by pilots to start or shut down engines on the ground or to manually shut down or restart engines if an engine failure occurs during a flight. Aviation experts say a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches that feed the engines. But if moved, the effect would be immediate, cutting off engine power. There are independent power systems and wiring for the fuel cutoff switches and the fuel valves controlled by those switches, according to U.S. aviation safety expert John Cox. Live Events You Might Also Like: Air India, global carriers confirm Boeing 787 fuel switches are safe WHERE ARE THE FUEL SWITCHES LOCATED? The two fuel control switches on a 787, in Air India's case equipped with two GE engines, are located below the thrust levers. The switches are spring-loaded to remain in position. To change one from run to cutoff, a pilot has to first pull the switch up and then move it from run to cutoff or vice versa. There are two modes: 'CUTOFF' and 'RUN'. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FATAL AIR INDIA FLIGHT? According to the flight recorder, a few seconds after takeoff, switches for both engines transitioned to 'CUTOFF' from 'RUN' one after another with a time gap of one second. As a result, the engines began to lose power. You Might Also Like: Air India crash probe focuses on actions of plane's captain, Wall Street Journal reports One pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. "The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report said. The report did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer. But the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the first officer asked the captain why he moved the fuel switches to 'CUTOFF' seconds after lifting off the runway, citing people familiar with U.S. officials' early assessment of evidence uncovered in the investigation. Seconds later, the switches flipped back to 'RUN', according to the preliminary report. Both fuel control switches were found in the 'RUN' position at the crash site, it said. When fuel control switches are moved from 'CUTOFF' to 'RUN' while the aircraft is in flight, each engine's control system automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction, the report said. "No sane pilot would ever turn those switches off in flight," especially as the plane is just starting to climb, U.S. aviation safety expert John Nance said. You Might Also Like: 'I didn't do it': Air India crash report reveals last conversation between pilots
Qatar Tribune
7 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
‘No basis': Pilot groups reject claims of human error in Air India crash
Agencies Two groups of commercial pilots have rejected claims that human error caused an Air India plane crash that killed 260 people after a preliminary investigation found the aircraft's engine fuel switches had been turned off. The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India) issued statements on Sunday after the release of the initial findings, which showed that fuel control switches to the engines of Flight AI171 were moved from the 'run' to the 'cutoff' position moments before last month's deadly impact. The report sparked speculation by several independent aviation experts that deliberate or inadvertent pilot action may have caused the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to crash soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad in western India. Flight AI171 was headed to London's Gatwick Airport when it crashed on June 12. The report on the crash, issued on Saturday by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), did not offer any conclusions or apportion blame for the disaster but indicated that one pilot asked the other why he cut off the fuel and the second pilot responded that he had not. After the switches flipped, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner immediately began to lose thrust and altitude, according to the report. One pilot can be heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he had cut off the fuel. 'The other pilot responded that he did not do so,' the report said. It did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer or which pilot transmitted 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday' just before the crash. No more details about the cockpit dialogue between the pilots were revealed. The ICPA said it was 'deeply disturbed by speculative narratives, … particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide'. 'There is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage,' it said in a statement. 'It is deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved. 'To casually suggest pilot suicide without verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession.' The ICPA was referring to a number of aviation experts suggesting engine fuel control switches can only be moved deliberately and manually. United States-based aviation safety expert John Cox earlier said a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches that feed the engines. 'You can't bump them and they move,' he told the Reuters news agency. ALPA India, which has 800 members, also accused the investigative agency of 'secrecy' surrounding the investigation, saying 'suitably qualified personnel' were not involved in it. 'We feel that the investigation is being driven in a direction presuming the guilt of pilots and we strongly object to this line of thought,' ALPA India President Sam Thomas said in a statement issued on Saturday. ALPA requested the AAIB be included as 'observers so as to provide the requisite transparency in the investigations'. Meanwhile, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the probe into last month's crash is far from over and it is unwise to jump to any premature conclusions. Wilson added: '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.' The crash killed all but one of the 242 people on board as well as 19 people on the ground.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Air India plane crash: Misinformation takes off amid fog over accident
Hours after the preliminary findings into the June 12 Air India crash were released on Saturday, selective excerpts began circulating on social media — particularly the cockpit exchange — interpreting them as an apparent signifier of pilot error. Aviation safety experts said the report's sparse narrative, lack of timeline, and absence of human factors data have allowed speculation to overwhelm facts. The report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), tasked with inquiring into the crash, said analysis of the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder showed both fuel control switches had been transitioned from run to cut-off position seconds after lift-off. Between 10-14 seconds later, both switches were turned on again, but the plane failed to regain power fast enough to prevent the crash. The report offers no explanation for this. Experts said the absence of technical context, behavioural analysis, or a clear sequence of events has left room for unverified theories and AI-generated content to spread unchecked. ET Bureau Social Media Conjecture As the report circulated, social media timelines were flooded with so-called explainers and crash reconstructions—many of them drawing conclusions or implying fault despite no cause being mentioned in the report. 'It says that the fuel switches moved. It doesn't say the pilots moved the fuel switches. So it's carefully worded,' said Captain John Cox, veteran pilot and safety analyst. The lack of clarity, he warned, has helped misinformation thrive. In light of this, the government has cautioned people not to jump to conclusions until the final report is out. 'This has been what I would call a low point in aviation history because of the actions of people speculating and using the internet, as well as AI, to present things that they say as fact, when in fact, they're not,' said Cox, adding that it was 'cruel to the families' and 'counterproductive.' The misinformation does nothing, he said, 'except provide clickbait for someone who thinks they're an expert when in fact they are not.' 'It (the report) does, however, debunk several speculative theories which were in circulation, not least on social media,' said aviation consultant John Strickland. Without clearer framing, facts become fodder for fiction, experts theories have been doing the rounds. Apart from those cited earlier, these include deliberate action, a software or electrical malfunction simulating the activation or that the crew tried to restart engines by toggling cut-offs. Some cited a 2018 FAA bulletin warning of a switch design flaw, reviving concerns about mechanical failure. Patrik Frykberg, an ICAO-certified investigator and former director of Peru's accident investigation board, said the report's structure did little to aid public or policy understanding. ICAO is the International Civil Aviation Organization. 'While the report meets Annex 13 requirements, there are areas where the presentation could be strengthened,' he said. 'A brief executive summary or synthesis of the main findings known so far would aid accessibility for non-technical audiences or high-level stakeholders. The report could have benefitted from a clearer timeline graphic, summarising key actions, from liftoff to impact.' ICAO's Annex 13 is the framework for investigating incidents involving planes. Although the report notes that no immediate safety recommendations have been issued, a short section summarising potential human factors under investigation could offer value without prejudging conclusions, Frykberg said. Strickland, who has over four decades in the industry, said, 'The report is brief. It states facts and figures, but it does not draw conclusions. It is a preliminary report, and only the final report will provide full causal analysis and any mandated actions.' UK safety expert David Learmount said pilots can make mistakes under pressure. 'It's unlikely, but possible,' he said. 'Just after takeoff, both are focused on performance and flight path. Their only task at that point is to raise the landing gear, which isn't near the fuel switches. Yet, they didn't raise the gear, and there was no reason to touch the switches. It's hard to believe trained pilots could make such an error—but maybe. We don't know, and we may never know.' So far there's no evidence of intent—only that the switches were moved, he said. Until the final report emerges, experts said, the bigger concern is not just what happened on the flight deck, but how an inconclusive report, according to experts, has unleashed a flood of misinformation.
