Outrage has erupted following the initial findings into the Air India crash, with pilot associations flaying the investigation for placing unfair blame on the cockpit crew.
According to reports, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) voiced strong disapproval over the way the initial report was interpreted and disseminated. “At the outset, we would like to register our dissatisfaction with the exclusion of pilot representatives from the investigation process… Assigning blame before a thorough, transparent, and data-driven investigation is both premature and irresponsible,” the FIP statement published by media houses read.
Earlier, Air India said that a close inspection of the aircraft’s locking mechanisms showed no anomalies.
Another pilot union, the Air Line Pilots’ Association – India (ALPA India), forcefully defended the flight crew, denouncing any character attacks. “The crew of AI 171 made every possible effort – till their very last breath – to protect the passengers on board and minimise harm on the ground,” the statement declared, demanding dignity and fairness for the deceased pilots.
As the pilots’ bodies pushed back, an American newspaper published a damning report citing US officials and cockpit voice recordings. According to the newspaper, the black box data allegedly captured captain Sumeet Sabharwal turning off the fuel control switches. Seconds after take-off, First Officer Clive Kunder asked why the captain moved the switches from “run” to “cutoff.” The report claims the first officer panicked upon noticing the switch movement, while the captain appeared to stay calm.
The AAIB’s preliminary report claims that the aircraft’s fuel control switches flipped from “run” to “cutoff”. This reportedly happened within a second of takeoff. As a consequence, it cut fuel to the engines.
The switches control critical fuel flow. Going by the report, it’s yet to be established whether the pilots moved them. The report only noted one pilot questioning the other about the cutoff, with the latter denying it. The full transcript was withheld, triggering a wave of online speculation.
The tragic crash of flight AI 171, en route to London, saw the aircraft plummet into the BJ Medical College hostel building in Ahmedabad mere seconds after takeoff, killing all 260 people onboard and on the ground — including 241 passengers and crew and 19 civilians.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, aged 56, had 15,638 hours of total flight experience, while First Officer Clive Kunder had logged 3,403 hours. The crew’s extensive experience has further fueled skepticism over the theory of manual switch error.
Experts believe the accidental movement of the fuel control switches is highly improbable.
A national daily reported that investigators are exploring another possibility. A malfunction in the aircraft’s electrical or software systems can’t be ruled out — it may have caused the fuel control switches to transition to “cutoff” mode without any pilot input.
Meanwhile, the government has urged restraint. Insisting that the report is merely a preliminary evaluation, it urged both the media and the public to refrain from conclusions until the final report is published. This process may take as long as a year.
Also Read: Ahmedabad Cleanest Big City: Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 https://www.vibesofindia.com/ahmedabad-cleanest-big-city-swachh-survekshan-2024-25/
