The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has reportedly brought in veteran pilot and former Air India Director of Operations, Captain RS Sandhu, as a domain expert for the ongoing investigation into last month’s Ahmedabad plane crash that killed 260 people.
AAIB asked Sandhu to join the investigation team as a domain expert, and he agreed, Hindustan Times reported citing sources.
Who is Captain RS Sandhu?
Captain RS Sandhu is a former senior Air India executive having nearly 39 years of professional experience in the aviation industry. He served as Air India’s Director of Operations and was a designated examiner for the Boeing 787-8 fleet earlier in 2013.
He now runs an aviation consultancy named Aviazione. Given his long experience and technical knowledge, especially with the Boeing 787, Sandhu is expected to bring both credibility and depth to the ongoing inquiry.
He was included in the investigation as pilot unions raised concerns about the need for technical experts. The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) has also repeatedly urged the AAIB to involve pilots in the probe.
Probe led by Sanjay Kumar Singh
The AAIB has not revealed the names of other domain experts helping with the investigation. The probe is being led by 56-year-old Sanjay Kumar Singh and includes five members. According to the agency, the investigation team includes experienced professionals from various fields such as piloting, engineering, aviation medicine, psychology and flight data analysis.
In its preliminary report on the Air India crash, the AAIB found that fuel switches for both engines were turned off just seconds after takeoff. The cockpit voice recorder captures First Officer Clive Kunder asking Captain Sumeet Sabharwal why he cut off the fuel. The captain reportedly replied that he hadn’t done so.
On June 12, an Air India Boeing 787-8 flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 260 people. The aircraft fell into a hostel building, causing the deaths of 19 people on the ground. Out of the 242 passengers and crew on board, only one person survived.