Unveiling the Tragedy: What the AAIB Preliminary Report Reveals About the Air India Flight 171 Crash

Introduction

The tragic Air India flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad has sent shockwaves through the aviation world. On June 12, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London Gatwick, plummeted moments after takeoff. This devastating event, which claimed over 260 lives, marks a harrowing chapter in aviation history, particularly as the first fatal hull loss involving a Boeing 787. The subsequent investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has focused intensely on the few critical seconds between liftoff and the catastrophic impact.

The public has anxiously awaited answers regarding the Air India flight 171 crash. The release of the AAIB’s preliminary report provides the first official insights into the moments leading up to the disaster. While it does not offer a final determination of the cause, the report reveals crucial, and frankly alarming, details about the events in the cockpit and the sudden loss of engine power that defined the Air India flight 171 crash. Understanding the initial findings is essential for grasping the complexity of this ongoing investigation.

Air India flight 171 crash: What AAIB preliminary report reveals – and doesn’t

The AAIB preliminary report into the Air India flight 171 crash provides a detailed timeline of events. It confirms that the aircraft lifted off successfully but lost power almost immediately. The report is based on data recovered from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), commonly known as the black boxes.

The most startling revelation is the unexpected transition of the fuel cutoff switches. The report explicitly states that these switches moved from the "RUN" to the "CUTOFF" position just seconds after the plane left the runway. This action starved both engines of fuel, causing an immediate loss of thrust during the critical climb phase of the Air India flight 171 crash.

What caused the crash?

The immediate technical cause of the Air India flight 171 crash was the dual engine failure shortly after takeoff. However, the AAIB preliminary report does not identify why the fuel cutoff switches transitioned to "CUTOFF." The core mystery surrounding the Air India flight 171 crash remains whether this was a mechanical failure, an electrical malfunction, or an unintended human action.

The report notes that the Engine N1 and N2 parameters—which measure engine fan rotation speeds—began to decrease rapidly as the fuel supply ceased. This sequence of events, occurring within a one-second gap between the two engines, led directly to the loss of altitude and the tragic outcome of the Air India flight 171 crash.

What potential causes have been ruled out?

The preliminary report helps rule out several factors in the Air India flight 171 crash. The aircraft's weight was within permissible limits. Inspections confirmed the fuel samples taken from the aircraft and bowsers were satisfactory. The report also noted that the aircraft was airworthy, with only minor, non-critical maintenance issues listed in the Minimum Equipment List (MEL), none of which were related to the fuel control system.

Furthermore, CCTV footage and analysis ruled out significant bird activity or foreign object debris near the flight path. The report also confirmed that the flap handle assembly and landing gear were in their normal takeoff settings, ruling out configuration errors as a cause of the Air India flight 171 crash.

Does this mean the pilot was responsible?

The question of pilot responsibility is complex and remains open in the investigation of the Air India flight 171 crash. While the report confirms the fuel switches were moved to "CUTOFF," it does not definitively conclude that a pilot intentionally initiated this action. The recovered cockpit audio provides conflicting information regarding the Air India flight 171 crash events.

Experts note that moving both fuel switches to cutoff is a deliberate action, typically used on the ground or in specific emergencies. However, the preliminary report strongly suggests the movement was uncommanded or unintended. It is too early to assign blame for the Air India flight 171 crash based solely on the preliminary report's findings.

What happened in the cockpit?

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) captured a chilling exchange moments before the Air India flight 171 crash. One pilot is heard asking the other, "Why did you cut off?" The response from the second pilot was, "I did not do so." This dialogue highlights the immediate confusion and distress within the cockpit as the engines failed during the ascent of the Air India flight 171 crash.

The pilots' confusion documented in the AAIB report is a crucial element. It suggests that if the fuel cutoff was not a deliberate pilot action, it was caused by a mechanical or system anomaly that was unexpected by the crew. This conversation is central to understanding the final moments of the Air India flight 171 crash.

Could the crew have recovered the plane?

The AAIB report details the crew’s attempts to recover the aircraft. The flight data shows that the pilots attempted to restore fuel supply by flipping the switches back to "RUN" within seconds of the cutoff. An automatic relight sequence was attempted for both engines.

However, despite these efforts, Engine 2 failed to recover power. Although Engine 1 briefly responded, it was too late to prevent the catastrophic loss of altitude. The rapid sequence of events—only about 32 seconds between liftoff and the crash—left little time for a successful recovery from the dual engine failure during the Air India flight 171 crash.

Were there any problems with the plane?

The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was reported to have valid airworthiness certificates. The preliminary report does not identify any mechanical failures related to the engine or flight control systems that contributed to the Air India flight 171 crash. However, it does highlight a potential vulnerability.

The report mentions a 2018 Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) issued by the FAA. This advisory warned of a possible issue with the fuel control switch locking feature on similar Boeing aircraft. While not mandatory, Air India had not carried out the suggested inspections related to this advisory, a detail that is now under scrutiny following the Air India flight 171 crash.

What did the switches advisory pertain to?

The advisory referred to in the AAIB report relates to the potential for the fuel control switch locking feature to disengage. This concerns a scenario where the switches, which are typically locked in the "RUN" position during flight, might inadvertently move. While the advisory did not mandate inspections, the fact that the fuel switches moved to "CUTOFF" during the Air India flight 171 crash has brought this bulletin into sharp focus.

The investigation will examine whether the switches on the specific aircraft involved in the Air India flight 171 crash experienced a malfunction consistent with the 2018 advisory. The unexpected movement of these switches is the central technical question of the investigation into the Air India flight 171 crash.

What happens next? The investigation continues with several key areas of focus:

The AAIB emphasizes that the preliminary report is just the first step in a thorough investigation of the Air India flight 171 crash. The ongoing inquiry will delve deeper into several critical areas.

The investigation continues with several key areas of focus:

Investigators are meticulously analyzing the recovered black box data, focusing on the timing of the engine failure and the exact circumstances of the fuel switch movement. They are also examining the engine components and the maintenance history of the aircraft involved in the Air India flight 171 crash.

Aviation experts from India and international partners, including the NTSB-USA, Boeing, GE, and FAA, are collaborating on the probe. The investigation aims to determine the definitive cause of the fuel cutoff and whether it was a system malfunction or human error related to the Air India flight 171 crash.

FAQs

When was the last Air India crash?

The Air India flight 171 crash occurred on June 12, marking a major incident for the airline.

What did the Air India pilot say?

Cockpit recordings from the Air India flight 171 crash reveal one pilot asking "Why did you cut off?" and the other responding, "I did not do so."

What is fuel cut off?

Fuel cut off refers to the action of stopping the fuel flow to the engines, typically performed using switches in the cockpit. In the context of the Air India flight 171 crash, this occurred unexpectedly during flight.

Conclusion

The AAIB preliminary report into the Air India flight 171 crash has provided crucial data, confirming that a sudden and unexplained fuel cutoff led to the disaster. While the report raises more questions than answers about the cause, it highlights the importance of the ongoing investigation. The unexpected movement of the fuel switches, coupled with the pilots’ recorded confusion, underscores the complex challenges facing the investigators. The aviation community awaits the final report to fully understand the factors that led to the tragic Air India flight 171 crash and to implement necessary safety measures.