Interruption of fuel supply preceded the aircraft crash in India - Fuel supply was abruptly terminated just before the aviation disaster in India, leading to the plane's eventual crash.
The tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner into a residential area in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12th, has left the aviation community in shock. The plane, bound for London's Gatwick Airport, was carrying 242 passengers and 169 of them lost their lives on the ground, while only one individual on the plane survived.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is currently investigating the cause of the crash, with the preliminary findings suggesting that a fuel supply interruption may have been the main cause. According to the AAIB report, both engine fuel-control switches moved from the "RUN" to the "CUTOFF" position within seconds of each other shortly after takeoff, causing the engines to be starved of fuel and subsequently fail.
The sudden fuel cutoff led to a rapid decrease in engine fan rotation speeds (N1 and N2), forcing the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) and causing the aircraft to lose power and crash. The cockpit voice recorder revealed confusion among the pilots, with one asking why the fuel was cut off and the other denying any deliberate action, suggesting the fuel switches were not intentionally moved by the crew.
Experts have noted that the fuel cutoff switches are typically designed to avoid accidental operation, implying pilots would not usually be able to switch off the fuel supply inadvertently. The investigation, however, highlights that the manner in which the fuel switches moved to the cutoff position "doesn’t align with typical operations," raising questions about how this happened, with possibilities including mechanical failure or sabotage under consideration.
Air India has stated that the plane was "well-maintained" and no inspections were carried out as this was not classified as an "unsafe condition," according to Air India's explanation to investigators. The AAIB report states that the US aviation authority had warned in 2018 about the risk of "potential unlocking of the control switch for fuel supply."
The airline is working closely with the authorities, and both pilots, who had extensive flying experience, are part of the ongoing investigations. The AAIB has clarified that the investigations were "recommended and not mandatory."
This incident highlights a rare but critical failure involving fuel control, with ongoing investigations required to fully understand the root cause. The AAIB has emphasized that safety systems were in place but might not prevent all unusual or unknown causes that could move switches unexpectedly. The recovery of the two black boxes of the plane shortly after the crash has provided valuable insights into the events leading up to the crash, and the investigation is expected to continue in the coming weeks.
In the aftermath of the Air India plane crash in India, the industry and aviation sectors are closely monitoring the ongoing investigations. The financial implications for Air India could be significant if it is found that their maintenance procedures were inadequate or overlooked a warning from the US aviation authority about fuel supply issues. To navigate this crisis, the airline might need to seek support from the wider transportation and finance sectors.
