Kochi: In a shocking revelation, fuel supply to two engines of the ill fated Air India flight 171 Boeing 787 was found switched off as it was taking off from Ahmedabad International airport on June 12 when it crashed after not getting the thrust, killing 260 people, media reports said.
Preliminary investigations by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) confirmed that there was no bird hit, no fuel contamination, no issues related to maintenance among others.
The fuel switches were in ‘CUTOFF’ mode instead of ‘RUN’ position within a second of each other moments after lift-off.
The initial probe report said one of the pilots was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other pilot responded by saying that he did not do it.
The pilots of the Ahmedabad – London Gatwick flight were co-pilot Clive Kundar, while pilot-in-command Sumeet Sabharwal was pilot monitoring for this flight.
The fuel switches transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN position in one second but the plane was in extremely low altitude of the aircraft leading to the crash.
According to the 15-page report, the flight lasted around 30 seconds between lift-off and crash.
According to airline pilots and experts, the movement of the fuel control switches—critical switches that allow and cut fuel flow to the plane’s engines—have to be deliberate actions and their accidental movement is next to impossible.
The AAIB is expected to release the final probe report within a year of the crash.
Photo: X
