Air India Ahmedabad plane crash probe: The preliminary investigation report on the deadly AI 171 crash is set to be released on Friday. It has been suggested that the probe focusses on the movement of the Boeing jet’s fuel control switches, as per a Reuters report.
Aviation industry publication the ‘Air Current’ first reported the focus on the fuel switches that help power the plane’s two engines. As per their report, the available information on the black boxes could not rule in or out improper, inadvertent or intentional actions that preceded or followed the apparent loss of thrust before the aircraft crashed.
This comes after an ongoing analysis of the recovered black box, containing the Dreamliner 787’s flight and voice data recorders. As a separate investigation from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), a simulation by Boeing attempted to retrace AI 171’s final moments before the crash. Moreover, the investigation has not raised any immediate concerns over mechanical failure. It clearly stated that the there was no sign of fuel contamination or improper retraction of the aircraft’s flaps.
AAIB Air India investigation
The investigators took nearly two weeks to download the flight recorder data from the black box recovered from the crash site. Being spearheaded by AAIB in India, it was earlier reported that a UN aviation investigator would be joining the probe. A specialist from the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was granted observer status, following an unusual request by the agency to offer its support.
The crash is challenging the Tata Group‘s ambitious campaign to restore Air India’s reputation and revamp its fleet, after taking the carrier over from the government in 2022.
India is banking on a boom in aviation to support wider development goals, with New Delhi saying it wants India to be a job-creating global aviation hub along the lines of Dubai, which currently handles much of the country’s international traffic.
A panel of Indian lawmakers will review safety in the country’s civil aviation sector and has invited several industry and government officials to answer questions on Wednesday, with topics set to include the recent plane crash.
What are engine fuel control switches?
Engine fuel control switches in the Dreamliner 787 (RUN and CUTOFF) are used on the ground for engine start or shutdown the engine. In case of an engine failure, they are used for a manual inflight shutdown. The metal stop lock mechanism needs the crew to lift the switch before changing position.