A preliminary report has been released a month after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, revealing details of the final moments in the cockpit. The crash, which claimed the lives of 270 people, is considered India's worst aviation accident in decades.
According to the 15-page report by India's Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) captured a concerning exchange between the pilots. Data from the flight data recorders showed that the fuel control switches for both engines were switched from the CUTOFF position to the RUN position within seconds of each other. This action effectively cut off the fuel supply, causing both engines to lose power.
In the recording, one of the pilots is heard questioning, "Why did you interrupt them?". The other pilot responded, denying any involvement, stating that he had not done so. The report indicates that the return of the fuel control switches from CUTOFF to RUN suggests a possible attempt by the pilots to rectify the situation.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is designed to fly with a single engine, and pilots undergo training to handle such scenarios. However, the data recording abruptly stopped shortly after the exchange. One of the pilots managed to transmit a MAYDAY emergency call, but air traffic control received no response. Shortly after, the aircraft was seen crashing outside the airport perimeter. The fully loaded plane rapidly lost altitude and crashed into a medical student dormitory, resulting in a massive explosion and fire. All but one person on board perished, along with approximately 30 people on the ground.
The report also confirmed the activation of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency power and hydraulic system, immediately after takeoff. Airport security cameras did not detect any birds that could have contributed to the incident.
The recovery of the CVR is a crucial step in determining the cause of the accident. It captures audio from the cockpit, including pilot conversations, alarms, and ambient sounds, providing insights into the crew's actions during the critical moments of the flight. Analysis of the data is underway to understand the sequence of events and identify potential factors that led to the crash.
Aviation experts are offering possible explanations for the crash, and investigations are ongoing, including interviews with airport personnel, air traffic controllers and first responders. The focus remains on analyzing the data from the black boxes and wreckage to determine the exact cause and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
