Deadly Jet Crash Probe Focuses on Fuel Switches
NEW DELHI – A preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has revealed that the fuel control switches of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner were manually moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” just seconds before the fatal crash on June 12, killing 260 people.
The aircraft, en route from Ahmedabad to London, plunged shortly after reaching top speed. The report noted a one-second gap between the shutdown of Engine 1 and Engine 2. A cockpit voice recording captured one pilot questioning the other about cutting off the fuel, to which the second denied doing so.
Despite a brief recovery as the engines restarted, a “MAYDAY” distress call followed. Soon after, air traffic controllers witnessed the plane crash, prompting immediate emergency response.
Though the AAIB refrained from assigning fault, the Civil Aviation Minister emphasized the transparency of the investigation, urging patience until the final report.
In 2018, the US FAA had warned of possible malfunctions in the fuel switch lock. Investigators continue analyzing the incident, focusing on mechanical and human factors.
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