New Developments in the Air India Plane Crash Investigation
Speculation is intensifying regarding the cause of the Air India plane crash that occurred last month, following a report suggesting that the pilot may have intentionally cut off the fuel supply. According to a recent report, a cockpit voice recording indicates that the captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, shut off the fuel to the aircraft’s engines. The first officer reportedly questioned the captain about switching the fuel controls to the “cut-off” position moments after take-off, but the captain denied having done so.
The details emerged from a preliminary assessment by US officials investigating the crash that took place on 12 June in Ahmedabad, western India, which resulted in the loss of 260 lives, including 53 British nationals. The London Gatwick-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college shortly after take-off, with only one person surviving the incident.
India’s air accident authority has urged caution against speculation following the report, as media attention shifts toward a possible murder-suicide motive. Indian pilots’ unions have also defended the crew, refuting accusations that either pilot caused the crash, whether deliberately or accidentally.
Boeing and Air India representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment on the findings.
Understanding the Fuel Switches on the Boeing 787
A preliminary report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) noted that the fuel switches moved from “run” to “cut-off” just one second apart shortly after take-off. However, the report did not clarify how the switches were turned or assign responsibility.
Experts explain that the fuel switches are typically operated manually by one of the pilots. Paul Firth, a consultant for Astral Aviation and a current Boeing 787 pilot with over 30 years of experience in aviation, described the setup: “In the centre, between the two pilots, is a large console. The main bit in the middle are the aircraft throttles, which control the fuel flow to the engines. Directly beneath those are the two fuel control switches.”
These switches can be in two positions: “cut off,” which stops fuel from reaching the engine, and “run,” which allows fuel to flow. Before take-off, the switches are moved from “cut off” to “run,” taking approximately 30 to 40 seconds for the engines to become fully operational. Once running, the switches are usually not touched again until the end of the flight.
Firth emphasized that it is highly unlikely the switches could be turned off by accident. “There’s a little collar that has to be lifted, so you couldn’t accidentally knock the switch from run to cut off. It requires a deliberate motion.”
Were the Fuel Switches Intentionally Cut Off?
According to reports, the first officer, Clive Kunder, had control of the plane during take-off and asked Captain Sabharwal why he had turned off the fuel switches. Sabharwal denied doing so. Some sources suggest that Kunder may have panicked while the captain remained calm, though it is unclear whether the action was intentional or accidental.
US officials have indicated that criminal investigators should be involved in the case. However, no direct transcript of the recorded conversation has been released.
An Air India official stated that inspections of its other Boeing planes found no issues with the fuel switches. Despite this, experts note that investigators may still consider scenarios where actions could have been unintentional.
Firth explained that pilots undergo extensive training to avoid “action slips,” such as performing an incorrect task due to distraction. However, if an action slip occurred, the pilot would likely have followed other necessary steps, like retracting the landing gear. This was not the case, as the landing gear remained down throughout the flight.
Could the Disaster Have Been Prevented?
Dr Jason Knight, a senior lecturer in fluid mechanics at the University of Portsmouth, explained that when the fuel switches are turned off, fuel stops flowing into the engines immediately. “They’re designed in case of an engine fire or some other problem, so the fuel would be cut off fairly quickly.”
If the engines had continued operating, the aircraft might have stayed airborne. However, the engines were reported to be functioning perfectly before the incident. Dr Knight noted that there could have been an electrical malfunction affecting the switches, but much remains unclear.
Investigators will examine the switching mechanism recovered from the crash site to determine what happened. If the pilots had detected an issue earlier, they could have aborted the take-off, but the incident occurred at a time when the plane was already in the air at a very low altitude.
“It couldn’t have happened at a worse time,” Dr Knight said. “With this one, it is very puzzling as to what has happened.”
