Air India Crash report: A month after the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad that claimed at least 270 lives, investigators have uncovered critical clues. The preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) sheds light on what may have gone wrong during the worst aviation disaster in India in decades.
The report revealed that within seconds of takeoff, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s engine fuel control switches shifted from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’, cutting off fuel to both engines. This critical move caused the aircraft to lose power almost immediately.
Cockpit recordings captured the tense moment:
“Why did you cut off?” one pilot was heard asking the other. The second pilot replied he hadn’t done so.
Moments later, the pilots moved the switches back to ‘RUN’, trying to restart the engines.
Data showed the aircraft systems began managing a relight, but the plane was too low and didn’t have enough time to recover.
Tragically, the flight lasted just 32 seconds. CCTV footage from the airport showed the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deploying—a sign of total power loss. Shortly after, one of the pilots made a desperate MAYDAY call. Air Traffic Control responded, but there was no further reply.
Tragic aviation incidences tend to scar the future of humanity’s reach into the skies. Due to over-fueling for a flight to London, the airplane lost altitude rapidly and collided with a medical students’ hostel located on the outskirts of the airport. The explosion and impact resulted in almost complete destruction for those onboard and approximately 30 casualties on the ground. Reportedly, only one passenger aboard the flight survived.
The aircraft’s captain was Sumeet Sabharwal, alongside him was First Officer Clive Kundar, who had approximately 1,100 hours of flying experience. Captains Sabharwal and Kundar both have solid track records and received the necessary checks, so no sign of preflight risks existed on their end.
Investigators found no immediate evidence of sabotage. However, the report pointed to an old FAA advisory about possible installation issues with fuel control switches on similar Boeing aircraft. Though flagged earlier, it wasn’t classified as an unsafe condition.
Also Read: Air India Crash Report: Major Findings Revealed
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