Air India has officially reported that it has finished its inspections of Boeing aircraft concerning the fuel switch mechanisms that have been at the center of investigations following a catastrophic crash last month. The ill-fated flight, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in the loss of 260 lives, including 19 individuals on the ground.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India is looking into what caused the crash, a probe that could take many months, or even years, to unfold. A preliminary report indicated troubling findings: the fuel switches, responsible for regulating engine fuel flow, shifted from the 'RUN' position to 'CUTOFF' just seconds prior to the disaster. Safety experts suggest that it is improbable these switches were altered without human intervention, given their locking designs intended to avert accidental changes.
In response to the crisis, Indian aviation regulators mandated airlines to inspect the fuel switches on all Boeing models they operate. Air India confirmed the completion of its precautionary checks, stating that no discrepancies were found concerning the locking mechanisms of the fuel switches.
The tragic incident occurred on June 12, during Air India Flight 171, when the controls were manipulated causing the engines to cease functioning. Eyewitness accounts revealed a tense exchange in the cockpit, with one pilot questioning why the fuel was cut off, only to have the other assert that he had not done so. Despite attempts to restore fuel supply roughly ten seconds later, the aircraft could not recover swiftly enough to regain altitude.
Mujib Mashal contributed additional insights from New Delhi, while Jenny Gross provides ongoing coverage for The Times on this developing story.
