A preliminary report into last month's Air India plane crash that killed over 260 people has brought fuel switches into sharp focus. The investigation suggests that the aircraft's fuel control switches were turned off shortly after takeoff, leading to a loss of engine thrust. This raises critical questions about what these switches are, their function, and how their operation is being scrutinized in the context of the crash.
The report, released by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), indicates that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines moved from the "RUN" to "CUTOFF" position within one second of each other, just three seconds after the flight took off. This action starved the engines of fuel, causing them to lose thrust. The switches are designed to control the flow of fuel to the engines, and flipping them to the cutoff position is typically done to shut down the engines after landing or during specific emergency situations like an engine fire.
Investigators were able to retrieve data from the black boxes, revealing a perplexing exchange between the pilots. According to the report, one pilot is heard asking the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other responded that he did not do so. The report does not specify which pilot made each statement. Adding to the mystery, the report indicates no emergency that would have necessitated an engine cutoff. Aviation expert David Learmount told Sky News that while it "sounds deliberate", there remains the possibility of "pilots carrying out an incorrect action instead of what they should be doing".
The position of the fuel switches is not easily changed by accident. Aviation expert John Cox told Reuters that a pilot would not be able to accidentally move the fuel switches that feed the engines. According to Tim Atkinson, pilot and aviation consultant, "The fuel switches cannot be turned on or off by mistake. They have to be pulled out before selecting up (run) or down (cut off)".
The preliminary report absolves the aircraft and engine manufacturers of any immediate blame. "At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers, suggesting that no significant fault has been found with the plane or its engines," the report states. Robert Sumwalt, a CBS News aviation safety analyst and former chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, echoed this, stating, "Instead, the report indicates somebody in the cockpit shut the fuel off to those engines".
The investigation is ongoing to determine how and why the fuel switches were moved to the cutoff position. The focus remains on understanding the sequence of events in the cockpit and the actions of the pilots in those critical first few seconds of flight. Both pilots were experienced, with approximately 19,000 flying hours between them, including over 9,000 on the Boeing 787.
The crash is a stark reminder of the critical role of human factors in aviation safety, and the investigation's findings will be crucial in preventing similar incidents in the future.
