Investigative Report: Air India Plane Crash Linked to Fuel Cutoff Error

A preliminary investigation into the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has revealed that fuel to the aircraft's engines was cut off shortly after takeoff. The incident, which occurred last month, resulted in the loss of 241 lives, including passengers and crew, as well as 19 individuals on the ground.

According to a report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the cockpit voice recordings indicate a critical moment of confusion between the pilots. One pilot queried why the fuel cutoff switches had been activated, to which the other pilot responded that he had not done so. This exchange raises significant concerns about the circumstances surrounding the engine failures.

The report details that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines transitioned from the 'RUN' position to 'CUTOFF' within a one-second interval, leading to a rapid decrease in engine power. The abrupt cutoff of fuel supply is typically employed in emergency situations or after landing, prompting questions about the decision-making process in the cockpit during this flight.

Tim Atkinson, an aviation consultant and pilot, emphasized the rarity of such occurrences. He remarked, "There are very few situations or circumstances which would explain this. One would be an utterly extraordinary human error or an unintentional act, and the other - I’m very sorry to say - would be an intentional act. This analysis is based solely on the limited information available at this moment." Atkinson's insights underscore the gravity of the situation and the complexity of potential human factors involved in aviation safety.

The AAIB's report does not specify how the switches were inadvertently activated and states that no emergency requiring engine shutdown was identified. It also notes that one of the engines could be restarted, but this action was insufficient to regain control of the aircraft’s descent.

Notably, the investigation has ruled out significant bird activity in the vicinity of the flight path at the time of the accident, and the aircraft began to lose altitude just before crossing the airport perimeter wall. The plane ultimately crashed into a densely populated area, resulting in widespread devastation.

As the investigation unfolds, the AAIB has not issued any immediate recommendations for Boeing 787-8 or GE GEnx-1B engine operators. The black boxes, which include both cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders, were recovered shortly after the crash and are expected to provide crucial insights into the events leading up to the accident.

With a final report anticipated within a year, further analysis and data collection will be essential to determine the precise causes of this catastrophic event. The implications for aviation safety and regulatory oversight are significant, as experts continue to call for a thorough review of cockpit protocols and emergency response strategies. The aviation community remains vigilant, awaiting the final findings that will hopefully prevent similar tragedies in the future.