Background on Air India Flight 171
Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-800, departed from Ahmedabad’s airport on June 12th, heading to London’s Gatwick Airport with 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Tragically, only one passenger survived after the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff.
Preliminary Investigation Findings
The preliminary report, released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), revealed that three seconds after takeoff, the fuel control switches for both engines were almost simultaneously moved to the cutoff position. This disrupted fuel supply to both engines at a critical moment when maximum thrust was needed for gaining speed. Despite attempts to reset the switches, the low altitude prevented any recovery, leading to the crash.
Unexplained Fuel Switch Movement
The report fails to explain how the switches moved to the cutoff position, as this action cannot occur accidentally. It requires an intentional response to a specific emergency, such as fire in an engine, but no prior emergencies were reported.
Cockpit Voice Recorder Transcript
The cockpit voice recorder transcript indicates one pilot questioning the other about the cutoff, to which the latter responded that he did not initiate it. The report dismisses maintenance issues, contaminated fuel, or pre-flight malfunction.
Controversy and Reactions
The preliminary report suggests a “human error,” implying pilot mistake, which sparked immediate reactions from the Air India Pilots Association and even speculation of potential suicide, similar to the Germanwings incident in 2015.
Boeing’s Response
Although the report is preliminary and final conclusions are a year away, it has raised alarms in various sectors. The report practically exonerates Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, despite a 7-year-old Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommendation to review potential deactivation of fuel control switch lock mechanisms in several Boeing models. The FAA urged crews to ensure switches were locked, prompting a Boeing response asserting the safety of the interruptors.
Key Questions and Answers
- What happened during Air India Flight 171? The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff due to both engines’ fuel supply being interrupted simultaneously, likely caused by the pilot moving the fuel control switches to cutoff.
- Why is there controversy? The preliminary report suggests a “human error” by the pilot, which has led to speculation and raised questions about safety measures in Boeing aircraft.
- What is Boeing’s stance? Boeing maintains that their interruptors are safe, and the preliminary report practically exonerates them from responsibility.
- What is the FAA’s recommendation? The FAA previously recommended reviewing potential deactivation of fuel control switch lock mechanisms in several Boeing models, urging crews to ensure switches were locked.
