CNN
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India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau released a preliminary report on the Air India flight that crashed in June, indicating that fuel to the engine was cut off.
The London-bound plane returned to Earth after barely leaving the runway at Ahmedabad Airport. Everyone on board was killed except for one passenger.
According to a report obtained by CNN, fuel control in the cockpit of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was turned over, causing the fuel engine to starve.
Investigators were able to retrieve data from the black box, including 49 hours of flight data and 2 hours of cockpit audio, including crashes.
According to the report, the fuel cutoff switches on both engines “were shifted from run to cutoff position one after another to cutoff position,” and the aircraft reached an airspeed of 180 knots.
“In the audio recordings of the cockpit, one of the pilots hears asking the other people why he cut off. The other pilots responded that he didn’t,” the report reads.
Shortly afterwards, the switch was returned to where it should be, and the engine was in the process of powering it up and backing up in the event of a crash.
The fuel was cut off to the engine, according to the report.
In the 787, the fuel cutoff switch is between the two pilot seats just behind the plane’s throttle lever. They are protected on the side by metal bars and have a locking mechanism designed to prevent accidental cutoffs.
Airport footage shows that the aircraft’s emergency power source, RAM Air turbines, were deployed during the first climb of the plane after takeoff, the report says. The plane began to lose altitude before crossing the airport boundary wall.
Investigators also noted that the equipment settings found in the wreckage are normal when it is taken off. The report found that the airplane’s fuel was of satisfactory quality and no significant bird activity was observed near the flight path.
“When the fuel control switch moves from cutoff to travel while the aircraft is in-flight, the full privileged dual engine control of each engine automatically manages the regeneration and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction,” the report states.
Seconds after the engine tried again to light, one pilot called it “Mayday Mayday”. The controller called for the plane’s call sign, but did not get a response and saw the plane crashing in the distance.
The flight captain is a 56-year-old man who has flew over 15,000 hours in his career. The first mate was a 32-year-old man who took over 3,400 flight times.
The plane’s takeoff weight was found to be within the acceptable limits, and the aircraft had no “dangerous goods.” Investigators found that the plane’s wing flap was set to the 5-degree position. This was suitable for takeoff and the landing gear lever was in the down position.
The left engine was installed on the plane on March 26th, and the right hand was installed on May 1st, the report said.
In addition to those on board, many people on the ground were killed when the plane collided with the BJ Medical College and the hospital hostel.
Air India Flight, AI171, took off from Sardarvarabai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad in Gujarat, western India on June 12th. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was scheduled to head to London Gatwick and land at 6:25pm (1:25pm).
Air India said there were 242 passengers and crew members on board. This included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese and one Canadian.
A total of 260 people died in the collision, according to the report. Many deaths on the ground were attributed to the plane crashing into the hostel.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
