Air India crash report reveals fuel cut-off switch was flipped seconds after takeoff
A report into the Air India crash that killed 260 people has been released – revealing the plane’s engine fuel cut-off switch was flipped just three seconds after taking off.
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A preliminary report for last month’s Air India crash that killed 241 people on board — with a sole survivor miraculously walking away — found that the plane’s engine fuel cut-off switch was flipped just three seconds after taking off.
Another 19 people were killed on the ground after the aircraft slammed into a medical college in Ahmedabad, India.
The report into the doomed Air India Flight 171 that crashed moments after take off has been submitted to Indian authorities but there is currently no obligation to make it public, Sky News reports.
It is unclear how or why the switch was flipped, which ceased all fuel to the engines and quickly forced the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner to lose its thrust and crash.
“The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their takeoff values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off,” the report said.
The pilots may have been responsible for the devastating crash, as it is difficult, if not impossible, to accidentally flip the switch, The US Sun reported.
The report details how cockpit audio from Air India Flight 171 captured one pilot asking, “Why did you cut-off?” with the other responding, “I didn’t” before the plane went down.
Whether the fuel supply was cut off deliberately or accidentally is still under investigation, the report states.
“Both engines were retrieved from the wreckage site and quarantined at a hangar in the airport,” the report said.
“Components of interest for further examinations have been identified and quarantined.”
The report detailed how shortly after takeoff, Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cut-off switches changed from “run” to “cut-off” one after another – with just a one-second time gap.
After the pilots discussed the switch, both engines were put back into “run” mode, however failed to reignite in time.
The report states one of the pilots called out “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” before the plane crashed.
The flight crew consisted of pilot and captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, with over 15,000 total flying hours and co-pilot, Clive Kunderaged, 32, with over 3,400 total flying hours.
“Both pilots were based at Mumbai and had arrived at Ahmedabad on the previous day,” the report said.
“They had adequate rest period prior to operating the said flight.”
The report also showed CCTV images obtained from the airport which showed no problems with the plane’s “initial climb”.
“No significant bird activity is observed in the vicinity of the flight path,” the report stated.
“The aircraft started to lose altitude before crossing the airport perimeter wall.”
Five buildings were also destroyed on the ground as a result of the crash.
“The aircraft was destroyed due to impact with the buildings on the ground and subsequent fire,” the report said.
ALL VICTIMS IDENTIFIED
Indian forensic investigators identified all 260 people killed in the London-bound passenger plane.
The UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) states the investigation must submit a preliminary report within 30 days of an accident, however, it does not need to be made public.
According to the ICAO, preliminary reports “may be marked as confidential or remain public at the investigating state’s discretion”.
Meanwhile health officials in the Indian state of Gujarat initially said at least 279 people were killed, but forensic scientists reduced the figure after multiple scattered and badly burnt remains were identified.
“The final death toll in the plane crash now stands at 260,” Rakesh Joshi, head of Ahmedabad’s main state hospital, said.
“All the human remains found so far from the crash site have been identified and handed over to their families,” Joshi added.
“Our work is now over,” he added.
“We have matched DNA of all the mortal remains that were collected from the crash site.”
Joshi said it was doubtful any further remains would be found in the wreckage.
“The possibility is almost negligible, I believe,” he said.
On Tuesday, health authorities handed over the remains of 26 victims to their relatives, or, for families who had already received parts of their dead kin’s bodies and held funerals, carried out ceremonies for them.
“Seven families collected the remains of their kin … while 19 families gave consent to the hospital to carry out the rites,” Joshi said.
There were 230 passengers – 169 Indians, 53 British, seven Portuguese and a Canadian – along with 12 crew members.
Dozens of people were injured, with two remaining in hospital.
Only one passenger miraculously survived, a British citizen who was seen walking out of the wreckage of the crash, and who has since been discharged from hospital.
– with AFP
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