Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement

Air India crash report shows pilot confusion over engine switch movement.

Reuters

• Crash of Boeing 787 killed 260 people last month
• Pilots were experienced; unclear how fuel switches moved
• One pilot asked the other why he cut off the fuel

NEW DELHI, July 12 (Reuters) – A preliminary investigation into last month’s Air India crash, which claimed 260 lives, reveals confusion in the cockpit moments before the disaster. The report indicates that the aircraft’s engine fuel cutoff switches were triggered almost simultaneously, cutting off fuel supply and causing engine failure.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was en route to London from Ahmedabad when it began losing thrust and rapidly descended shortly after takeoff. The findings, released Saturday by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), pertain to what is now considered the deadliest aviation accident in the past decade.

The report raises serious concerns about the placement of the aircraft’s engine fuel cutoff switches. Almost immediately after takeoff, closed-circuit footage captured the deployment of a ram air turbine—a backup power source—signaling a critical loss of engine power.

NEW DELHI, July 12 (Reuters) – In the final moments before last month’s Air India crash that killed 260 people, cockpit voice recordings reveal a tense exchange: one pilot questioned the other about why the fuel had been cut off. “The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” according to the preliminary report.

The investigation did not specify whether the captain or first officer made the remark, nor did it identify which pilot issued the final “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” call before impact.

The commanding pilot has been identified as Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, with 15,638 flight hours and serving as an Air India instructor. His co-pilot was First Officer Clive Kunder, 32, with 3,403 flight hours. According to the report, both fuel switches shifted from “run” to “cutoff” nearly simultaneously shortly after takeoff, though it remains unclear how this happened.

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu urged caution: “We care for the welfare and the well‑being of pilots, so let’s not jump to any conclusions at this stage; let us wait for the final report.”

The crash comes as a significant test for Tata Group’s ongoing efforts to rebuild Air India’s safety image and modernize its fleet, following its acquisition from the government in 2022. Air India confirmed it is cooperating with investigators but declined to provide further comment.

Fuel Switches

Aviation experts emphasize that a pilot could not accidentally flip these switches. U.S. safety specialist Anthony Brickhouse questioned, “If they were moved because of a pilot, why?”

According to U.S. aviation expert John Nance, the switches flipped roughly one second apart—“about the time it would take to shift one and then the other.” He also noted that no pilot would deliberately cut off fuel during climb unless dealing with an engine fire or a similarly critical emergency—but no such situation was present.

Moving a switch to CUTOFF immediately stops the engine—it’s typically used at the terminal gate or in rare in-flight emergencies. Investigators found neither engine fire nor any other emergency prior to the incident.

At the crash site, both switches were later discovered in the RUN position, and evidence indicates both engines briefly relit before the aircraft impacted at low altitude.

Family Response

The father of First Officer Clive Kunder, speaking at a Mumbai memorial service, stated: “I am not from the airline,” and declined further comment during a prayer meeting for the crew. 

International Investigative Cooperation

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) acknowledged the collaboration with Indian authorities and emphasized that the preliminary report didn’t propose any new safety measures for Boeing 787 operators or GE engines. thetimes.co.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) highlighted its commitment to follow the facts and promptly address any aviation safety risks identified during the investigation. reuters.com

Manufacturers’ Support

Boeing confirmed it is supporting both the investigation and Air India, while GE Aerospace had not yet responded to requests for comment

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), under India’s civil aviation ministry, is leading the investigation into the June 12 crash, which tragically claimed all but one of the 242 people onboard, along with 19 lives on the ground

Consistent with international regulations, a preliminary report was released within 30 days, and a final report is expected within a year

Investigators recovered both black boxes—the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder—within days of the crash, and data download and analysis were carried out in India, with support from the NTSB

The preliminary report confirmed that “all applicable airworthiness directives and alert service bulletins were complied (with)” for the aircraft and engines 

CCTV footage from Ahmedabad revealed that the Dreamliner climbed to approximately 650ft before abruptly losing altitude and crashing into a building in a fireball.

🌲 Crash Flight Path & Further Scrutiny

Aircraft’s final moments: 

The AAIB’s preliminary report indicates that, after losing altitude, the Dreamliner struck several trees and an incineration chimney before crashing into a building in a fireball .

Regulatory follow-up on Air India Express: 

Separately, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has launched an investigation into Air India Express after finding that the carrier, in March, failed to change Airbus A320 engine parts within the timeframe required by a safety directive and apparently falsified maintenance records to appear compliant . These revelations compound scrutiny of the Tata Group–owned airline amidst increased attention on its safety practices.

India’s aviation ambitions: 

India aims to replicate Dubai's success by becoming a major aviation hub and a key driver of employment growth. Rapid expansion, though, raises concerns that safety standards may need reinforcement to keep pace

Relevant news on Air India crash

You said:

CRASH PROBE The AAIB, an office under India's civil aviation ministry, is leading the probe into the crash, which killed all but one of the 242 people on board and 19 others on the ground. Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, with a preliminary report due 30 days after the accident, according to international rules, and a final report expected within a year.

  The plane's black boxes, combined cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders, were recovered in the days following the crash and later downloaded in India. The report said "all applicable airworthiness directives and alert service bulletins were complied (with) on the aircraft as well as engines." The airport closed-circuit TV recording from Ahmedabad had earlier shown the Air India plane rose to a height of 650 feet after it took off, but then suddenly lost altitude, crashing in a fireball into a nearby building.

Reporting by Reuters.