Latest news with #Yugandhar
Indian Express
20-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Air India crash probe: From black box retrieval to AAIB's preliminary report — a timeline of key events
Exactly a month after the deadly aviation disaster, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report of the investigation into the June 12 Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport which killed 260 people. The probe led by the autonomous body is under the spotlight, more so since the release of its 15-page initial report on July 12, post midnight. The AAIB team probing the Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 crash is a multidisciplinary team including its AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar, an aviation medicine specialist, an air traffic control officer, and representatives from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). While the initial report came under the scanner for being worded beyond the mandate and giving additional details, but selectively, chief Yugandhar said: 'The purpose of the AAIB's investigation and preliminary report is to provide information about 'WHAT' happened… At this stage, it is too early to reach to any definite conclusions. The investigation…is still not complete. The Final Investigation Report will come out with root causes and recommendations,' The full report is expected in about a year's time. As the AAIB-led investigation continues to be watched globally, here's a timeline of key events in the probe so far: On June 12 (Thursday), the Boeing plane—operating flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick—crashed moments after take-off, killing 260 people, including 241 of the 242 on board and 19 on the ground. According to the 15-page report, the flight lasted 'around 30 seconds' between lift-off and crash. This was the worst aviation disaster involving an Indian airline in at least four decades, and the first fatal crash of 787 Dreamliner, Boeing's latest generation wide-body aircraft. -Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) launches an investigation into the Air India crash. -The aft Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFR) or the rear black box from the tail section of the plane is found from the rooftop of the BJ Medical College hostel mess building. It had suffered extensive internal thermal damage, as per officials. Two days after the crash, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) held a briefing where no questions were taken. Up until the release of the official preliminary report, there were just a few press releases on the status of the probe The next day, a team led by a NTSB representative including those from Boeing, GE and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) arrived in Ahmedabad and participated in the on-site investigation. A team of officials from AAIB's team from the UK also arrived and visited the site with Yugandhar, the initial report specifies. The second black box unit (the forward EAFR) is also recovered from debris at the crash site near Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. It was burnt and covered in soot. Two black boxes from General Electric Co (GE.N), one in the aircraft's front and another at the rear, are installed on Boeing's 787 jets, as per news agency Reuters. Both contain a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder with the same sets of data. Both EAFRs are transported from Ahmedabad to the AAIB's facility in New Delhi. The data from damaged flight recorders was downloaded by the AAIB after sourcing 'Golden Chassis' and relevant download cables from the DGCA and other Accident Investigation Authorities, the report states. Here, the required 'Golden Chassis' (Identical EAFR unit) and Download cables were sourced from the US via the NTSB on June 23. The downloaded flight data contained approximately 49 hours of flight data and 6 flights, including the event flight. The findings of the preliminary investigation report released by the AAIB provide the most detailed account of the incident on June 12. It revealed that the aircraft's engine fuel control switches transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' position within a second of each other moments after lift-off. To be sure, the report doesn't mention that the fuel control switches — which allow and cut fuel flow to the plane's engines — moved physically, and uses the term 'transitioned' to describe the change of mode from RUN to CUTOFF. It also does not state these were moved by either of the pilots. From the cockpit voice recorder data, the preliminary probe report notes that one of the pilots asked the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other pilot responded saying he did not. The pilot flying was co-pilot Clive Kunder, while pilot-in-command Sumeet Sabharwal was pilot monitoring for this flight. The report also said there were no recommended actions to Boeing or GE at this stage, indicating that a fault in the aircraft or engines was unlikely. In an appeal issued on Thursday, AAIB Director General Yugandhar urged the public and the media to 'refrain from spreading premature narratives' around the ongoing investigation. He also said that sections of the international media are 'repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting', and termed it 'irresponsible' as the investigation is still on. Meanwhile on this day, The Indian Express reported that the investigators were examining the history of technical snags and the possibility of system malfunction that can impact the FADEC's (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) Engine Control Unit (the brain of the aircraft) to trigger 'uncommanded' actions. Urging everyone to avoid speculation, the head of the US probe agency Jennifer Homendy termed recent media reports surrounding the probable causes of the crash as 'premature and speculative'. This comes close on the heels of reports by a few US-based publications suggesting that deliberate action by one of the pilots was most likely the cause of the crash.
Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Indian Express
‘Premature, speculative': NTSB chief on media reports on Air India Ahmedabad crash causes
The head of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, has termed recent media reports surrounding the probable causes of the crash of Air India Flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, as 'premature and speculative'. The NTSB chief supported the recent public appeal issued by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) against speculation around the ongoing air crash investigation. Homendy's comments come close on the heels of reports by a few US-based publications suggesting that deliberate action by one of the pilots was most likely the cause of the crash in which 260 people died — 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground. 'Recent media reports on the Air India 171 crash are premature and speculative. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau just released its preliminary report. Investigations of this magnitude take time. We fully support the AAIB's public appeal, which was released Thursday, and will continue to support its ongoing investigation. All investigative questions should be addressed to the AAIB,' Homendy said in a statement. In the appeal issued on Thursday, AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar urged the public and the media to 'refrain from spreading premature narratives' around the ongoing investigation into the tragic crash of the Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft Ahmedabad on June 12. In the appeal, Yugandhar also said that sections of the international media are 'repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting', and termed it 'irresponsible' as the investigation is still on. Yugandhar added that the preliminary report only attempts to only provide information on what happened in the crash, and that it is too early to arrive at any definite conclusions, adding that the final report will contain the root causes of the crash. Yugandhar's statement came at a time when speculation is rife over the probable causes of the accident — the worst aviation disaster involving an Indian airline in four decades. 'While the accident of this dimension has drawn public attention and shock, however, it needs to be appreciated that this is not the time to create public anxiety or angst towards safety of Indian Aviation Industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts,' Yugandhar said. The AAIB DG also said that the bureau will publish updates of technical and public interest 'as and when required'. Scarce flow of official information, absence of regular updates and briefings on the investigation were flagged by a number of experts and industry watchers. According to the AAIB chief, the investigation into the crash — 'the most devastating accident in recent aviation history' — is being undertaken in a 'rigorous and most professional manner' as per AAIB Rules and international protocols. 'It is essential to respect the sensitivity of the loss faced by family members of deceased passengers, crew of the aircraft and other deceased persons on ground. It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing. We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process,' Yugandhar said. The AAIB's preliminary investigation report, released a month after the accident, said that the Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed after both its engines were starved of fuel as the two fuel control switches transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' position within a second of each other moments after lift-off. From the cockpit voice recorder data, the preliminary probe report notes that one of the pilots asked the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other pilot responded saying he did not. To be sure, the report doesn't mention that the fuel control switches — which allow and cut fuel flow to the plane's engines — moved physically, and uses the term 'transitioned' to describe the change of mode from RUN to CUTOFF. It also does not state these were moved by either of the pilots. However, the selective information presented in the report had many believing that it implicitly pointed a finger at one of the pilots. 'The purpose of the AAIB's investigation and preliminary report is to provide information about 'WHAT' happened. The preliminary report has to be seen in this light. At this stage, it is too early to reach to any definite conclusions. The investigation…is still not complete. The Final Investigation Report will come out with root causes and recommendations,' he added. Top officials of the aviation ministry, experts, and industry insiders maintained that jumping to any conclusion at this early stage of the investigation just based on limited information in the initial report wouldn't be appropriate. There is a long way to go for the investigation and a lot could change as the probe progresses over the coming months, they said. The report, too, clearly mentions the disclaimer that it is based on 'preliminary facts and evidence', and that the information it contains is 'preliminary and subject to change'. According to experts, the investigators should now focus on unearthing the cause behind the transitioning of the fuel control switches, which are used to allow and cut fuel supply to the engines. There is considerable speculation on whether the switches were flicked by one of the pilots — inadvertently or otherwise — or whether the transition signal to the system was due to any technical, mechanical, or software issue. The report did not issue any recommendation to other operators of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft and its GE engines, suggesting that at this stage, the investigators do not have a reason to believe that there was any issue with the plane or its engines. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
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Business Standard
17-07-2025
- Business Standard
Too early to draw conclusions: AAIB on Air India plane crash probe
Speculation in sections of the foreign media regarding the cause of the Air India (A-I) flight AI171 crash is 'unfounded' and 'premature', G V G Yugandhar, director-general of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), said on Thursday evening. This is the first public statement by Yugandhar since the June 12 crash of A-I's Boeing 787-8 aircraft (registration VT-ANB), which killed 241 of the 242 people on board. Titled 'Appeal', his statement came hours after The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published a report that pointed to Captain Sumeet Sabharwal turning off fuel switches moments before the crash. Citing people familiar with the US side of the investigation, WSJ said cockpit voice recordings indicate Sabharwal moved the fuel control switches to the 'cutoff' position after takeoff, triggering a surprised and panicked response from the First Officer Clive Kunder. The WSJ report said the US assessment was based on black box data and speculated on whether Sabharwal's actions were deliberate or accidental. It added that such details could lead US authorities to examine potential criminal liability had the crash occurred on American soil. Yugandhar on Thursday evening said, 'It is essential to respect the sensitivity of the loss faced by family members of deceased passengers, crew of the aircraft, and other deceased persons on the ground.' 'It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing,' he said. The AAIB had released its preliminary report on July 12, which revealed that fuel supply to both engines was cut off shortly after takeoff. The two fuel control switches were moved to the 'cutoff' position in quick succession, and although they were turned back on about 10 seconds later, the engines had already flamed out. The report said that one pilot asked the other why he moved the switches, and the other responded by denying it. The report did not identify who said what. The AAIB report did not rule out technical faults and stated that aviation medicine and psychology experts were involved in the ongoing investigation. 'The purpose of the AAIB's investigation and preliminary report is to provide information about what happened. At this stage, it is too early to reach any definite conclusions,' Yugandhar said on Thursday, urging the public and media to refrain from 'spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process'. He stressed that the AAIB was investigating the crash 'rigorously and most professionally' under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, which govern India's obligations under international aviation protocols, notably the International Civil Aviation Organization's Annex 13. These rules lay down procedures for impartial, non-criminal investigations focused on safety improvement rather than blame. Yugandhar also underlined AAIB's track record, noting that it had investigated 92 accidents and 111 serious incidents since its inception in 2012. He called the AI171 crash 'the most devastating accident in recent aviation history'. He said it had 'understandably drawn public attention and shock', but this was not the time 'to create public anxiety or angst towards the safety of the Indian aviation industry, particularly based on unfounded facts'. He said, 'AAIB appeals to all concerned to await publication of the final investigation report after completion of the investigation. AAIB will also publish updates as and when required, which have technical and public interest.'
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Indian Express
AAIB slams global media for ‘irresponsible' reporting based on selective, unverified claims
The chief of India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) issued an appeal Thursday, urging the public and the media to 'refrain from spreading premature narratives' around the ongoing investigation into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad on June 12. In a public appeal, AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar said that sections of the international media are 'repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting', and termed it 'irresponsible' as the investigation is still on. Reports by a few US-based publications have suggested that deliberate action by one of the pilots was most likely the cause of the crash in which 260 persons perished—241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground. Yugandhar said that the preliminary report only attempts to only provide information on what happened in the crash, and that it is too early to arrive at any definite conclusions, adding that the final report will contain the root causes of the crash. This is Yugandhar's first public statement since the fatal air crash, and comes at a time when speculation is rife over the probable causes of the accident—the worst aviation disaster involving an Indian airline in four decades. 'While the accident of this dimension has drawn public attention and shock, however, it needs to be appreciated that this is not the time to create public anxiety or angst towards safety of Indian Aviation Industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts,' Yugandhar said. The AAIB DG also said that the AAIB will also publish updates of technical and public interest 'as and when required'. Scarce flow of official information, absence of regular updates and briefings on the investigation were flagged by a number of experts and industry watchers. According to the AAIB chief, the investigation into the crash—'the most devastating accident in recent aviation history'—is being undertaken in a 'rigorous and most professional manner' as per AAIB Rules and international protocols. 'It is essential to respect the sensitivity of the loss faced by family members of deceased passengers, crew of the aircraft and other deceased persons on ground. It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing. We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process,' Yugandhar said. The AAIB's preliminary investigation report, released a month after the accident, said that the Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed after both its engines were starved of fuel as the two fuel control switches transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' position within a second of each other moments after lift-off. From the cockpit voice recorder data, the preliminary probe report notes that one of the pilots asked the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other pilot responded saying he did not. To be sure, the report doesn't mention that fuel control switches—which allow and cut fuel flow to the plane's engines—moved physically, and uses the term 'transitioned' to describe the change of mode from RUN to CUTOFF. It also does not state these were moved by either of the pilots. However, the selective information presented in the report had many believing that it implicitly pointed a finger at the pilots. 'The purpose of the AAIB's investigation and preliminary report is to provide information about 'WHAT' happened. The preliminary report has to be seen in this light. At this stage, it is too early to reach to any definite conclusions. The investigation…is still not complete. The Final Investigation Report will come out with root causes and recommendations,' he added. Top officials of the aviation ministry, experts, and industry insiders maintained that jumping to any conclusion at this early stage of the investigation just based on limited information in the initial report wouldn't be appropriate. There is a long way to go for the investigation and a lot could change as the probe progresses over the coming months, they said. The report, too, clearly mentions the disclaimer that it is based on 'preliminary facts and evidence', and that the information it contains is 'preliminary and subject to change'. According to experts, the investigators should now focus on unearthing the cause behind the transitioning of the fuel control switches, which are used to allow and cut fuel supply to the engines. There is considerable speculation on whether the switches were flicked by one of the pilots—inadvertently or otherwise—or whether the transition signal to the system was due to any technical, mechanical, or software issue. The report did not issue any recommendation to other operators of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft and its GE engines, suggesting that at this stage, the investigators do not have a reason to believe that there was any issue with the plane or its engines. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
17-07-2025
- Business Standard
AAIB chief slams 'premature' foreign media reports on Air India crash
Speculation in sections of the foreign media regarding the cause of the Air India flight AI171 crash is "unfounded" and "premature", GVG Yugandhar, Director General of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), said on Thursday evening. This is the first public statement by Yugandhar since the June 12 crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft (registration VT-ANB), which killed 241 of the 242 people onboard. Titled 'Appeal', his statement came hours after The Wall Street Journal published a report that pointed to the captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, turning off fuel switches moments before the crash. Citing people familiar with the U.S. side of the investigation, WSJ said cockpit voice recordings indicate Sabharwal moved the fuel control switches to the "cutoff" position after take-off — triggering a surprised and panicked response from the first officer, Clive Kunder. The WSJ report said the U.S. assessment was based on black box data and speculated on whether Sabharwal's actions were deliberate or accidental. It added that such details could lead U.S. authorities to examine potential criminal liability, had the crash occurred on American soil. Yugandhar on Thursday evening said: 'It is essential to respect the sensitivity of the loss faced by family members of deceased passengers, crew of the aircraft and other deceased persons on ground.' 'It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing,' he stated. The AAIB had released its preliminary report on July 12, which revealed that fuel supply to both engines was cut off shortly after take-off. The two fuel control switches were moved to the 'cutoff' position in quick succession, and although they were turned back on about 10 seconds later, the engines had already flamed out. The report stated that one pilot asked the other why he moved the switches, and the other responded by denying it. The report did not identify who said what. The AAIB report did not rule out technical faults, and said aviation medicine and psychology experts were involved in the ongoing probe. 'The purpose of the AAIB's investigation and preliminary report is to provide information about what happened. At this stage, it is too early to reach any definite conclusions,' Yugandhar said on Thursday, urging the public and media to refrain from 'spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process.' He stressed that the AAIB was investigating the crash 'in a rigorous and most professional manner' under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, which govern India's obligations under international aviation protocols, notably ICAO's Annex 13. These rules lay down procedures for impartial, non-criminal investigations focused on safety improvement rather than blame. Yugandhar also underlined AAIB's track record, noting that it had investigated 92 accidents and 111 serious incidents since its inception in 2012. He called the AI171 crash 'the most devastating accident in recent aviation history' and said it had 'understandably drawn public attention and shock,' but this was not the time 'to create public anxiety or angst towards safety of the Indian aviation industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts.' He stated: 'AAIB appeals to all concerned to await publication of the Final Investigation Report after completion of the investigation. AAIB will also publish updates as and when required which have technical and public interest.'
