New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its initial findings on the devastating Air India crash in Ahmedabad, pointing to a catastrophic dual engine failure just moments after takeoff. The preliminary report suggests that the malfunction was triggered by a fault in the aircraft's electrical system.
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner experienced engine shutdowns within seconds of lifting off the runway. Shockingly, investigators found that the engine fuel control switches were in the “off” position at the time of the incident. Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot questioning the other about the switches being turned off, to which the co-pilot responded with confusion, claiming he had not touched them.
Experts believe that even if the crew had attempted to rectify the switch positions immediately, the engines would have already shut down, leaving no time for a restart. The preliminary findings strongly rule out a bird strike as a contributing factor.
The pilot-in-command, Captain Sumit Sabharwal, a seasoned flyer with over 8,600 hours of experience on the Boeing 787, was overseeing the flight. First Officer Clive Kunder, with 1,100 flying hours, was at the controls. Both pilots had received sufficient rest prior to the flight, ruling out fatigue as a factor.
The report, submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday, stresses the need for a comprehensive investigation to determine the root cause of the technical failure that resulted in the tragic loss of 260 lives.