What We Know So Far About the Air India Crash: Pilot Actions Under Scrutiny

Investigation Insights into the Air India Tragedy

New Delhi/ Mumbai: The initial investigation report regarding the tragic Air India plane crash has raised concerns about the pilots' actions, while the lack of recommendations for Boeing 787-8 operators has left many questions unanswered as the inquiry continues, experts noted on Saturday.

Key findings from the 15-page preliminary report indicate that the fuel switches for the aircraft's engines were turned off within a second, leading to a loss of thrust and altitude before the plane collided with a building in Ahmedabad, resulting in 260 fatalities.

The report outlines the sequence of events leading to the crash, which occurred less than a minute after takeoff. However, it lacks crucial details, such as the complete transcript of the cockpit voice recording and which pilot inquired about the fuel switch being turned off post-takeoff.

Experts suggest that mechanical or power supply issues may have contributed to the fuel switch malfunction. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) noted that both engine fuel switches were cut off immediately after takeoff, with a one-second interval.

"In the cockpit voice recording, one pilot questioned the other about the switch being turned off, to which the other pilot replied that he did not do it," the report stated, but it did not specify which pilot made the comments, according to an experienced Boeing pilot.

"They have extracted a few specific words from the CVR but did not release the full transcript. Isolating a word without context leaves room for speculation, and the actual report may take a year or more to finalize," the pilot added.

The Pilot-In-Command (PIC) for the ill-fated AI171 flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick was Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, aged 56, with over 8,596 hours of flying experience, while First Officer Clive Kundar, 32, had 1,128 hours on the Boeing 787-8.

Both pilots were based in Mumbai and had arrived in Ahmedabad the day before the flight, having had sufficient rest prior to operating the aircraft. Kundar was the Pilot Flying (PF), while Sabharwal served as the Pilot Monitoring (PM).

According to the Boeing pilot, the investigation has left two significant issues unresolved: the airworthiness directive regarding the fuel control switches and the actions of the pilots, which could lead to varied interpretations.

"The investigation appears to place the blame on the pilots while leaving the situation open-ended. Without the complete context of the cockpit conversations, it's challenging to draw conclusions," the pilot remarked.

The Airline Pilots' Association of India has expressed disagreement with the report, claiming that the investigation seems biased against the pilots and has reached conclusions too quickly. They are calling for a thorough and unbiased investigation into the crash.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu emphasized the need for caution before attributing blame to the pilots, stating that multiple factors must be considered before the final report is compiled.

A former Director General of Civil Aviation official noted that the investigation should focus on why the fuel switches changed position, questioning whether it was due to mechanical failure, intentional actions, or other issues, including potential software glitches.

This incident marks the first fatal accident involving Boeing's popular Dreamliner model, resulting in a total loss of the aircraft.

The AAIB's report currently indicates that there are no recommended actions for B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers at this stage.

The aircraft involved in the crash was equipped with GEnx-1B engines, and fuel samples from the refueling process were tested and deemed satisfactory.