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The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was travelling from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12, crashed into a medical hostel complex moments after takeoff in Ahmedabad.
Air India. (File photo)
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the Air India crash incident, which claimed the lives of 141 people on board, and suggested no immediate need of action for Boeing or engine maker General Electric (GE).
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was travelling from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12, crashed into a medical hostel complex moments after takeoff in Ahmedabad.
“At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to Boeing 787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers,” the AAIB said in its initial report.
Although no immediate safety directives have been issued, the crash has prompted worldwide examination of the Boeing 787’s design—particularly its fuel switch mechanism and the associated locking system.
Fuel Cutoff To Both Engines
The AAIB investigation revealed that both engines of the ill-fated aircraft shut down mid-air just seconds after takeoff, as the fuel cutoff switches were moved from RUN to CUTOFF within one second of each other.
The report confirmed that fuel supply to both engines was interrupted, leading to both engines losing thrust mid-air.
During the time, one pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” The other responded, “I didn’t,” indicating confusion in the cockpit.
The Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a small propeller-like device, was deployed automatically to provide emergency hydraulic power after engine failure.
AAIB-reviewed CCTV footage confirmed its deployment.
Subsequently, the pilots attempted to restart the engines. N1 (engine 1) partially recovered, but engine 2 failed to restart before impact.
The aircraft remained airborne for only 32 seconds and crashed 0.9 nautical miles from the runway, hitting a hostel.
A previous FAA advisory had alerted operators to a potential flaw in the fuel control switch locking feature, but Air India did not inspect since the advisory was not mandatory.
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