On June 12, an Air India aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad, leading to a tragic loss of 260 lives, including 240 passengers. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released a preliminary report detailing the incident. The report, spanning 15 pages, provides an initial understanding of what happened during the flight involving a Boeing 787-8. Here are ten major points from the report:
1. **Fuel Cutoff Switch Activated**: At 13:38:42 IST, the aircraft reached 180 knots IAS. Immediately after, the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were shifted from ‘Run’ to ‘Cutoff’.
2. **Attempt to Relight Engines**: Seconds later, the fuel switches for both engines were returned to ‘Run’. This indicated attempts to relight the engines, as the Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) increased.
3. **Cockpit Voice Recording**: During the incident, one pilot asked, “Why did you cut off the fuel?” The other pilot responded, “I didn’t do it,” indicating potential confusion in the cockpit.
4. **Engine Speed Decrease**: Data from the engines and the aircraft flight recorder (EAFR) confirmed that both engines’ N2 values dropped below the minimum idle speed during the incident.
5. **Engine 1 Showed Recovery Signs**: Engine 1 showed signs of recovery after a major stall, while Engine 2 failed to stabilize despite repeated attempts to inject fuel.
6. **Combustion During Attempts**: The EAFR data indicated that after switching back to ‘Run’, both engines experienced increased EGT, suggesting combustion during the relight attempts.
7. **Severe Damage to Recorders**: The rear flight recorder suffered significant damage, making it impossible to download data using traditional methods.
8. **No Safety Recommendations Yet**: At this stage, the AAIB has not issued any safety recommendations for Boeing 787-8 aircraft or GE GEnx-1B engine operators.
9. **Ongoing Investigation**: The AAIB stated that they are seeking further evidence from stakeholders and will review this in the next phase of the investigation.
10. **Background of the Crash**: The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed outside the BJ Medical College hostel, leading to widespread criticism against Boeing and raising concerns about the aircraft’s design, especially the fuel switch mechanism.
The report highlights a crucial issue with the fuel control switch. It is noted that significant advice was given around six to seven years ago regarding the fuel control switch, which was ignored. Had this advice been followed, the crash might have been avoided. The report also references advice from the American aviation regulator, which noted a problem with the locking feature of the fuel control switch. However, Air India mentioned that this advice was advisory and not mandatory, which is why no investigation was conducted.
In response to the crash, Boeing has stated they will provide information to the AAIB in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization protocols.
Air India’s parent company, Tata Sons, has announced a compensation of 1 crore rupees for each victim’s family along with interim compensation of 25 lakh rupees. The investigation continues, with both engines and cockpit controls undergoing detailed examination to understand the faults that may have led to the crash.
The tragic event has raised serious safety concerns, prompting an immediate review of the Boeing 787’s design and systems. The final report from the AAIB will be published after thorough analysis of all data collected.