BREAKING Air India crash: Pilot cut off fuel to engines - no fault with plane | BBC News

Air India Flight 171 Crash: Preliminary Report Summary

Key Concepts:

• Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report
• Fuel control switches (run/cutoff positions)
• Cockpit voice recording (CVR)
• Flight data recorder (FDR)
• Engine thrust loss
• Pilot actions and potential confusion

1. AAIB Preliminary Report Findings

• The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report on the Air India Flight 171 crash, which resulted in over 270 fatalities.
• The report indicates no significant faults with the aircraft itself or its engines.
• The investigation's focus has shifted to the actions of the pilots in the cockpit.

2. Fuel Control Switch Anomaly

• Flight record data from the FDR reveals that both fuel control switches were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position shortly after takeoff.
• These switches are primarily used to turn engines on or off while the aircraft is on the ground.
• The movement of these switches resulted in both engines experiencing a loss of thrust.

3. Cockpit Voice Recording Evidence

• The CVR captured a conversation where one pilot questioned the other about why the cutoff was initiated.
• One pilot is heard asking the other "Why did you switch the fuel engines from the cutff to the cutff position from the on position?"
• The other pilot responded, stating that he "did not do that."

4. Engine Restart and Thrust Issues

• While the pilots switched the fuel control back to the "run" position, one of the engines did not immediately regain full thrust.
• The report suggests that even though the engines can restart after a mid-flight cutoff, one engine didn't thrust at the right time.

5. Role of Fuel Switches (Theo Leget's Explanation)

• Theo Leget, the business correspondent, explained that the fuel switches are located on the central console of the cockpit.
• Their primary function is to turn the engines on during ground operations and off after landing.
• While there are exceptions for in-flight use (e.g., engine failure or fire), their use during normal flight is uncommon.
• The switches are designed with a two-step process to prevent accidental activation.

6. Investigation Focus and Potential Scenarios

• The ongoing investigation will concentrate on determining the reason for the confusion in the cockpit.
• Possible scenarios include:
  • Pilot error or mistake
  • Other unknown motives
• The report highlights that the movement of the fuel switches is the most likely cause of the crash.
• The time required to restore thrust after the engine cutoff was insufficient to prevent the accident.

7. Impact on Victims' Families

• The report acknowledges the devastating impact of the crash on the families of the victims.
• One family member interviewed expressed that while the report's findings are informative, they cannot bring back her deceased husband.
• The report, while providing answers, does not alleviate the grief and loss experienced by the affected families.

8. Synthesis/Conclusion

The preliminary report on Air India Flight 171 points towards pilot actions related to the fuel control switches as the primary cause of the crash. While the investigation is ongoing, the evidence suggests that the unexpected cutoff of fuel to both engines, followed by a delayed thrust recovery, led to the tragic outcome. The report emphasizes the need to understand the circumstances and potential confusion within the cockpit that resulted in the movement of these critical switches. The findings, while providing some clarity, do not diminish the profound loss and grief experienced by the victims' families.