A preliminary investigation into the Air India plane crash that occurred last month has revealed a startling detail: the fuel control switches for both engines were moved to the "cutoff" position moments before impact. This action starved the engines of fuel, leading to a loss of thrust shortly after takeoff. The crash, which occurred on June 12 in Ahmedabad, India, resulted in the deaths of at least 260 people, including 19 on the ground.
The report, issued by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), indicates that the flight lasted only about 30 seconds between takeoff and the crash. The fuel cutoff switches transitioned from the "run" to "cutoff" position within a second of each other. While the report doesn't specify how the switches were flipped, it does highlight the confusion in the cockpit. In the cockpit voice recording, one pilot is heard asking the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other pilot responded that he did not do so. The switches were flipped back to the run position, but it was too late for the plane to regain enough power to halt its descent.
The incident raises serious questions about what could have caused the fuel switches to move to the cutoff position. Aviation experts have weighed in on the possibilities, with some suggesting the action may have been deliberate. However, they also acknowledge the possibility of a pilot making an incorrect action. One expert noted that the fuel switches are not easily turned on or off by mistake, as they must be pulled out before being moved. Adding to the mystery, the report indicates that retracting the plane's undercarriage was the only action the pilots needed to take at the time, and this was not done.
CBS News aviation safety analyst Robert Sumwalt, former chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, stated that the report indicates someone in the cockpit shut the fuel off to those engines. He explained that the switch is normally switched up to start the engines and introduce fuel into the engines, and then at the completion of a flight. He said the primary question will be whether the shutoff was inadvertent or intentional, which the report did not address.
The preliminary report does not offer any conclusions or apportion blame for the disaster. Air India has stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigating authorities. The airline is working closely with regulators and the AAIB as the investigation progresses. The investigation is ongoing, and further analysis of the black boxes and cockpit voice recordings may provide more insight into the cause of the crash.
