A preliminary investigation into the tragic loss of Air India Flight AI-171 has revealed that the aircraft crashed just 32 seconds after departure following the manual termination of fuel flow to both engines.
According to findings released by aviation authorities, the aircraft’s powerplants ceased operation abruptly when their respective fuel control switches were moved from the “RUN” position to the “CUTOFF” state during the initial climb.
Data analysis indicates a deliberate, albeit catastrophic, sequence of events. The fuel control switches were not deactivated simultaneously; instead, they were moved one after the other, approximately one second apart. This sequential action immediately starved the engines of fuel, causing a total loss of thrust moments after liftoff.
At such a low altitude and limited airspeed, the aircraft was unable to maintain its climb or perform an emergency recovery, resulting in the impact shortly after the wheels had left the runway.
In a significant development for the investigation, technical examiners have confirmed that no mechanical or structural deficiencies have been identified in the aircraft thus far. Initial inspections of the wreckage and maintenance logs suggest that the engines and their auxiliary systems were functioning within normal parameters until the fuel supply was interrupted.
Aviation safety experts have highlighted that the “CUTOFF” position is typically reserved for engine shutdown upon arrival at the gate or during specific emergency fire procedures. Activating these switches during the critical takeoff phase—the most sensitive stage of flight—is described as a catastrophic event from which recovery is nearly impossible given the lack of altitude.
With mechanical failure largely ruled out, the focus of the probe has shifted toward human factors and cockpit procedures. Investigators are currently scrutinising Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) data and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) inputs to determine the circumstances that led to the switches being moved.
Authorities are exploring whether the incident was the result of a procedural error, a misunderstood emergency, or other human-related factors. “The investigation is ongoing, and further analysis will focus on the environment within the cockpit and any evidence that could explain why these critical switches were moved at such a juncture,” a spokesperson for the aviation bureau stated.
Leave a comment