One Month After the Ahmedabad Plane Crash, the Initial Investigation Report Has Been Released
 |
| Social News In Rajasthan |
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) made the 15-page report public on July 12. According to the preliminary investigation, the crash occurred due to both engines of the aircraft shutting down.
Right After Takeoff, Both Fuel Switches Were Turned Off One by One, Causing Both Engines to Shut Down
Cockpit recordings revealed that during this time, one pilot asked the other, "Did you turn off the switch?" The other replied, "No."
On June 12, Flight AI 171, which was headed from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into a medical hostel building shortly after takeoff. The crash resulted in the deaths of 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew members. Only one passenger survived the accident.
Pilots Tried but Could Not Prevent the Crash
According to the report, both fuel switches on the aircraft were found to be turned off. After realizing this, the pilots turned the switches back on and attempted to restart both engines. However, the aircraft was flying at a very low altitude, leaving no time for the engines to regain power — leading to the crash. It still remains unclear how the fuel switches were turned off in the first place.
As per the 15-page report, the entire flight—from takeoff to the crash—lasted only about 30 seconds. So far, the report does not include any warning or action recommendations for operators regarding the Boeing 787-8 aircraft or its GE GEnx-1B engines. The report also rules out weather conditions, bird strike, or sabotage as causes of the crash.
What Did the Investigation Reveal? – Know in Q&A Format
Q: What happened in the air?
A: The report states that just a few seconds after takeoff, both engines shut down mid-air. The fuel cutoff switches changed from RUN (engine on) to CUTOFF (engine off) within the span of just one second, one after the other. As a result, the engines stopped receiving fuel supply.
Q: What conversation took place between the pilots?
A: The cockpit audio revealed a brief exchange where one pilot asked, “Why did you shut (the engine) down?”
The other pilot replied, “I didn’t.”
Q: Was there an attempt to restart the engines?
A: Yes, the pilots attempted to restart the engines. Engine 1 (N1) partially restarted, but Engine 2 could not be started before the crash. The aircraft remained airborne for only 32 seconds
Q: Was there any issue with the fuel?
A: Fuel testing confirmed that there was no problem with the fuel itself. The thrust levers were found completely broken, but data from the black box indicated that takeoff thrust was active at the time—suggesting a possible disconnection. Thrust levers are used to control the power output of the aircraft’s engines
Q: Was there any issue related to bird hitting?
A: No, there was no issue related to bird strike. The flap setting (5 degrees) and landing gear (down) were normal for takeoff.
Q: What was the weather like at the time of the crash?
A: The sky was completely clear, visibility was good, and there were no conditions like storms or turbulence.
Q: Were the pilots medically fit?
A: Yes, both pilots were medically fit and had no health issues. The pilot-in-command had 15,000 hours of flying experience, while the co-pilot had 3,400 hours.
Q: Was any advisory issued to the aircraft manufacturer during the investigation?
A: The report states that this is a preliminary investigation and is still ongoing. As of now, no advisory has been issued to Boeing (the aircraft manufacturer) or General Electric (GE), the engine manufacturer.
 |
| Social News In Rajasthan |
 |
| Social News In Rajasthan |
As soon as the aircraft took off, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed.
The report also stated that as soon as the engines shut down, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed.
RAT is a small, propeller-like device that spins using the force of air and generates electrical and hydraulic power. It is specifically designed to activate when the aircraft's main power supply fails or the hydraulic system malfunctions.
RAT helps keep at least the basic navigation and control systems functioning to some extent during such emergencies.
Boeing Responds – Says It Is Cooperating with Investigation Agencies
Following the release of the preliminary report, Boeing issued a statement saying,
"Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew members of Air India Flight 171, and the families of those affected in Ahmedabad. We are fully cooperating with the investigating agencies and our customer."
This statement came in response to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) initial findings.
Pilot Issued a Mayday Call
The final signal from the aircraft was received at an altitude of 190 meters (625 feet), shortly after takeoff. The plane took off from Runway 23 on June 12 at 1:39 PM.
After becoming airborne, the pilot sent a Mayday call (emergency message) to Air Traffic Control (ATC), but no further communication was received after that.
 |
| Social News In Rajasthan |
Why Are Fuel Switches So Critical?
The Dreamliner aircraft's engines have two fuel switch positions: RUN and CUTOFF.
If the aircraft is in the air and the switch moves to CUTOFF, fuel supply to the engine stops. This leads to a loss of thrust (engine power) and may also cut off the electrical supply, potentially disabling several critical instruments in the cockpit.
That's why fuel switches are considered a vital component for safe flight operations.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information available from public sources and Internet
0 comments:
Post a Comment