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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Airlines initiate locking mechanism checks in Boeing 787 aircraft fuel switches
The identification in the preliminary report of fuel being cut off to both engines shortly after take off as the cause of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last month has prompted airlines to issue directives for checking the locking mechanism in the fuel switches of Boeing 787 aircraft. AAIB's report into the Air India plane crash said fuel control switches were found in the 'cutoff' position. (REUTERS) The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)'s report into the crash, released on Saturday, said fuel control switches were found in the 'cutoff' position. The report triggered a debate over whether pilot action or mechanical failure caused the crash, which left 260 people dead. It said that there was no 'recommended action' for either Boeing, the maker of the aircraft, or GE, the engine manufacturer, at this time. Against the backdrop of the report, Etihad Airways, one of the United Arab Emirates two flag carriers, asked its engineers to inspect the locking mechanism of the fuel control switches in the B-787 aircraft. It asked them to be careful while operating the switches. The fuel control switch is a key cockpit component pilots use to start or stop fuel supply to an engine. It includes a locking feature that requires the pilot to lift the switch before moving it to avoid accidental operation. In its safety circular or 'standard work package' for its engineering team, a copy of which was posted on X, the Etihad asked them to fully inspect the fuel control switch locking feature for 'proper engagement'. 'Attempt to gently move (without applying excessive force) the Left (L) fuel control switch on the P10 Control Stand from 'CUTOFF' to 'RUN' without lifting the switch,' the circular said. 'If the switch cannot be moved without lifting, the locking feature is functional. No further action is required. Proceed to the next step.' HT has reached out to the airline for comments on the circular. The AAIB said that the Air India plane's engine 1 and engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec. 'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so'. The 15-page report was published a month after the disaster. It provided the first official account of India's worst aviation accident in decades. The report cited data from the black boxes. The crew restored fuel flow within 10 and 14 seconds, triggering automatic engine restart sequences, but the Boeing 787 had already begun its irreversible descent toward a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu urged caution and called for waiting for the final report. The investigation into the plane crash is still on. On Saturday, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cited the AAIB's preliminary report regarding potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on Boeing Model 737 air planes. It said that this was based on reports that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. The FAA added that although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing air plane models, the FAA does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive on any Boeing air plane models, including the Model 787. The FAA said it will continue to share relevant information with foreign civil aviation authorities. It noted the AAIB continues to lead the accident investigation, with the FAA providing technical support. The AAIB report referred to the FAA's Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin on December 17, 2018, warning aircraft operators of a potential issue involving the locking mechanism on engine fuel control switches in Boeing aircraft models, including the Boeing 787-8. The SAIB said that the issue affects Boeing models, including the 717, 737, 747, 757, 767, and 787 series. It issued a bulletin to check whether the switch moved freely without lifting and replacing the switch if the locking mechanism was found disengaged. It did not make it mandatory for the airline operators to conduct the checks and asked them to report any failure of the locking mechanism to Boeing with relevant aircraft and part details. The preliminary crash report said that Air India did not perform the inspections. The Indian aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has not issued any directive. Officials said the DGCA was reviewing the situation and is likely to make a decision soon.
Mint
a day ago
- General
- Mint
Air India crash: Cockpit caution please, not early conclusions
India's aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu's advice against leaping to conclusions on the 12 June crash of Air India's flight 171 in Ahmedabad needs to be taken by all, just as the classic principle of 'reasonable doubt" requires wide public appreciation in a world fed by social media frenzies. Often, the dots in a case join up to offer an apparent answer. Also Read: Mint Explainer | What caused the Air India crash: Malfunction or human error? The interim probe of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that seconds after takeoff, the ill-fated Boeing 787's fuel supply to both engines was cut off in quick succession; one pilot asked the other why he did it and the latter denied doing so. Also Read: Digital twins of aircraft: A big leap for civil aviation? By the time both switches were flipped back to 'run", it was too late to regain thrust. The report leaves open a window for a role played by a technical snag, but the potential human role makes it imperative to wait for final findings. Also Read: Scared of flying after Air India tragedy? You are not alone The disbelief evoked by the latter possibility is also a reminder of why a just society demands we minimize scope for false attribution of blame, even if it means such a system may err on the side of pinning down less of it overall. Every shadow of doubt on a hypothesis needs to be pursued by investigators, even if a prima facie story seems to add up. Let's be patient.
India.com
2 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Pilots Unions Say Its Unfair To Blame Air India Crew For Plane Crash
India's pilot associations have slammed the 'reckless speculation' around the Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash at Ahmedabad, as sections of the media have hinted that the pilots are to be blamed for the tragic incident. The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) on Sunday condemned 'insinuations of pilot suicide' as baseless and insensitive, saying the crew acted in line with their training for an emergency. 'Speculation is irresponsible and cruel. There is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage… invoking such a serious allegation based on incomplete information is not only irresponsible, it is deeply insensitive,' ICPA said in a statement. The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) has already criticised the preliminary investigation report, calling the tone of the probe biased towards pilot error and lacking in transparency. They have demanded that line pilots be included in the investigation process, at least as observers, to ensure transparency and accountability. The pilots' associations have also questioned the selective media leaks hinting at pilot error ahead of the publication of the preliminary report. A preliminary report released by the AAIB on Saturday stated that both engines of the Air India Dreamliner lost thrust after the two fuel cut-off switches moved from the 'RUN' to the 'CUTOFF' position, within seconds of take-off. The cockpit voice recorder has revealed that one of the pilots told the other that he did not turn off the fuel control switches. The fuel switches were then returned back to the RUN position just before the plane crashed. According to former AAIB director Aurobindo Handa, the report presents a factual timeline but does not identify what triggered the failure. 'Even though the report is out, it just contains the facts… what has gone on in those 30-odd seconds. It is nothing conclusive.' He pointed out that preliminary and final findings often differ in air crash investigations and that a deeper technical analysis is still required. 'We have seen the initial findings and the final findings — they are at variance in the majority of the investigations,' he explained. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu also said on Saturday that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's report on the Air India crash was based on preliminary findings, and urged against reaching any conclusions until the final report is released.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Pilots' unions say it's unfair to blame Air India crew for plane crash
New Delhi: India's pilot associations have slammed the 'reckless speculation' around the Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash at Ahmedabad, as sections of the media have hinted that the pilots are to be blamed for the tragic incident. The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) on Sunday condemned 'insinuations of pilot suicide' as baseless and insensitive, saying the crew acted in line with their training for an emergency. 'Speculation is irresponsible and cruel. There is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage… invoking such a serious allegation based on incomplete information is not only irresponsible, it is deeply insensitive,' ICPA said in a statement. The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) has already criticised the preliminary investigation report, calling the tone of the probe biased towards pilot error and lacking in transparency. They have demanded that line pilots be included in the investigation process, at least as observers, to ensure transparency and accountability. The pilots' associations have also questioned the selective media leaks hinting at pilot error ahead of the publication of the preliminary report. A preliminary report released by the AAIB on Saturday stated that both engines of the Air India Dreamliner lost thrust after the two fuel cut-off switches moved from the 'RUN' to the 'CUTOFF' position, within seconds of take-off. The cockpit voice recorder has revealed that one of the pilots told the other that he did not turn off the fuel control switches. The fuel switches were then returned back to the RUN position just before the plane crashed. According to former AAIB director Aurobindo Handa, the report presents a factual timeline but does not identify what triggered the failure. 'Even though the report is out, it just contains the facts… what has gone on in those 30-odd seconds. It is nothing conclusive.' He pointed out that preliminary and final findings often differ in air crash investigations and that a deeper technical analysis is still required. 'We have seen the initial findings and the final findings — they are at variance in the majority of the investigations,' he explained. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu also said on Saturday that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's report on the Air India crash was based on preliminary findings, and urged against reaching any conclusions until the final report is released.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Don't come to conclusions till final report: Andhra Aviation Minister
VISAKHAPATNAM:Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Saturday said that while the preliminary report on the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad has been released, definitive conclusions can only be drawn after the final report is released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Speaking on the sidelines of Rozgar Mela held in Visakhapatnam, he said, 'The preliminary report has come in, but for any concrete conclusions, we must wait for the final report. We will fully assist the AAIB in completing it.' He commended the AAIB for conducting the investigation in a professional and transparent manner. 'It was a highly commendable effort and particularly challenging investigation. This marked the first time that the black box was safely recovered, and its data decoded entirely within India, at the AAIB laboratory in Delhi. This is a significant milestone,' he said. Noting that all international protocols were strictly adhered to during the investigation, the Union Minister added, 'We are closely coordinating with the agency, and will provide any additional support or resources required. The AAIB remains the nodal authority for the investigation.' Responding to questions about the content of the preliminary report, the Civil Aviation Minister remarked, 'I believe i t would be more appropriate to comment once the final report is released. Right now, based on what the report has stated, there are multiple other things that need to be looked into before the final report is out. We want the final report to come in to look at things. So let us wait till then.' He also acknowledged the emotional toll the incident has taken on the families of the victims. 'This is an extremely difficult time for the families who have lost their loved ones. The Civil Aviation Ministry is committed to doing everything within its purview to support them during this period,' Ram Mohan Naidu assured. It may be recalled that the Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12. The accident resulted in the death of 260 individuals, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 civilians on the ground.
