Air India Crash Investigation Developments

India’s aviation authority has instructed an airline operating several Boeing aircraft to inspect fuel control switches. This decision comes just days after an investigation into last month’s tragic crash of an Air India flight.

The Civil Aviation Director stated that the inspection will focus on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and a variant of the Boeing 737. The airline is required to complete this inspection by July 21 and report its findings back to the regulator.

A preliminary investigation into the crash, which resulted in 260 fatalities in Ahmedabad, indicated that the fuel supply to both engines was cut off when the switches moved within just one second of each other. However, the report released last week did not clarify the reasons behind the plane’s crash and left unanswered questions about how the switches shifted from operational to cutoff mid-flight.

Fuel control switches are crucial as they manage the flow of fuel to the engines.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after taking off on June 12, tragically claiming the lives of nearly all 242 onboard, alongside 19 individuals on the ground.

The cockpit audio recordings revealed a moment of miscommunication between the pilots. One pilot questioned why the fuel was cut off, while another insisted that it hadn’t been done.

Some aviation experts in India have speculated that the incident might be linked to human error, but this assertion has faced backlash from certain pilot associations. The Indian Association of Commercial Pilots released a statement expressing concern over “speculative narratives,” particularly those hinting at pilot suicide.

Air India’s CEO, Campbell Wilson, reported on Monday that a preliminary examination of another crash involving a London-bound flight found no mechanical issues with the plane or its engines.

In an internal communication shared with airline staff, Wilson affirmed that all necessary maintenance for the aircraft had been carried out, mentioning that there were no issues regarding fuel quality and no abnormal observations during the takeoff process. He also highlighted that the pilot’s medical condition posed no concerns prior to the incident.

In light of the crash, Indian authorities have mandated a thorough inspection of Air India’s entire fleet of 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to avert future accidents.