A cockpit recording from the Air India flight that crashed last month indicates that the captain reduced the fuel supply to the plane’s engines. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday.
Sources familiar with the ongoing investigation revealed that this revelation stems from initial evidence gathered by U.S. officials regarding the tragic crash on June 12 in Ahmedabad, India, which claimed the lives of 260 individuals.
During the flight, the first officer questioned Captain Sameet Sabalwal about why he switched the fuel to the “cutoff” position shortly after takeoff. It seems a bit puzzling, doesn’t it?
The pilots, Captain Sabalwal and First Officer Clive Kunder, brought a combined flying experience of over 19,000 hours to the table.
Responses from the two unions representing the Indian Aviation authorities and Air India, among others, regarding the Wall Street Journal’s findings, were not available at the time. Boeing also chose not to comment.
A preliminary report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) stated that the fuel switch was set to cutoff just two seconds after takeoff but didn’t clarify how it was reversed. That’s still a mystery, I guess.
After takeoff, footage from a security camera showed the backup power source activating, indicating that there was a loss of engine power.
When asked why the fuel was cut off, one pilot on the recording noted that the other pilot had not done the cutoff. The exchange seems a little unclear, reflecting the chaos of that moment.
With no fuel reaching the engine, the London-bound aircraft began losing power, and at about 650 feet, it started to descend.
The fuel switches on both engines were reinstated to full supply, and an automatic system attempted to restart the engine, but it was too late for recovery, according to aviation safety expert John Nance.
The plane, tragically, struck several trees and buildings before crashing into a college campus, resulting in fatalities for 19 individuals on the ground and the majority of those aboard the flight.
There are no safety recommendations
Following the preliminary report, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson indicated in a memo that there was no indication of mechanical or maintenance flaws, as all necessary upkeep had been performed.
Interestingly, the AAIB report did not put forward any safety recommendations for Boeing or the engine manufacturer.
After the findings were publicized, both the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing stated that the fuel switches were deemed safe, according to various sources.
Nance noted that it increasingly appears that the crew had indeed switched off the fuel, as there seems to be no other plausible explanation based on the information released thus far.
However, he added that investigators still needed to explore all contributing factors, which often takes time and can get complicated.
Typically, accidents involve a confluence of various elements, and a final report is expected within the year, per international regulations.
This incident has reignited discussions about the potential need for cockpit image recorders in passenger aircraft. Nance suggested that having visual documentation of the cockpit during flights could have been invaluable for the investigation.
As the inquiry into the crash continues, Air India is facing scrutiny on additional issues. Recently, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency announced it would look into Air India Express due to reports of delays in complying with an order to replace engine parts on its Airbus A320.
