Investigation Continues: Air India Flight 171 Crash Raises Questions

On September 15, 2023, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, tragically crashed into a building shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London, resulting in the deaths of 241 passengers and crew members, along with 19 fatalities on the ground. The sole survivor of this catastrophic incident has prompted a flurry of speculation and investigation into the underlying causes of the crash, as details from the preliminary report released by India's Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) continue to raise more questions than answers.

The AAIB's preliminary report, issued within the required 30-day timeframe, provides a factual summary of the early investigation findings but does not draw any definitive conclusions regarding the cause of the crash. According to the report, fuel cut-off switches were moved from the 'run' to the 'cut-off' position seconds after take-off, leading to a loss of engine thrust. Although the engines were restarted moments later, it was too late to avert the disaster.

A critical point of contention in the report is the lack of a transcript from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which could have provided context for the pilots' actions and conversation at the time of the incident. Dr. Emily Chen, an aviation safety expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stated, "The absence of this crucial information renders the investigation incomplete and raises concerns about transparency in the reporting process."

The report mentions that one pilot questioned the actions of the other regarding the fuel cut-off, but fails to identify either pilot involved, leading to rampant speculation regarding the nature of their interaction. Bjorn Fehrm, an aeronautical analyst at Leeham Company, criticized the report's vagueness, stating, "It's not acceptable to exclude vital conversations that could explain the sequence of events leading to the crash."

In light of the preliminary findings, various stakeholders within the aviation community have voiced their concerns. The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association issued a statement condemning the insinuation of pilot wrongdoing based on incomplete information, describing such allegations as "irresponsible and insensitive to the victims' families." Meanwhile, Campbell Wilson, CEO of Air India, reminded the public to refrain from drawing premature conclusions until a comprehensive investigation is completed.

Adding to the complexity of the investigation, the report referenced a 2018 safety bulletin from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that indicated potential issues with the fuel cut-off switches in some Boeing aircraft, including the 787. Despite the FAA's insistence that the situation did not constitute an immediate safety hazard, the lack of inspections prior to the crash has led to concerns about whether these switches could have malfunctioned.

Tim Atkinson, a former air accident investigator, expressed disappointment with the preliminary report, noting, "It raises more questions than it answers, and that could be a deliberate tactic to imply a narrative while avoiding direct responsibility."

As the investigation continues, the AAIB is expected to release a final report within a year, although such comprehensive investigations often take much longer. For now, the aviation community and the families affected by this tragedy await clarity on the events that led to the loss of so many lives on Air India Flight 171. The implications of this incident extend beyond immediate concerns, potentially influencing future aviation regulations and safety protocols amidst ongoing scrutiny of pilot training and aircraft safety standards.