An initial probe into last month’s deadly Air India crash has raised alarm among pilot groups, who warn that preliminary findings hinting at human error are premature and risk unfairly blaming the flight crew before the investigation is complete.
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A report by India’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), released on Friday, found that fuel supply to the aircraft’s engines was abruptly cut off just after take-off on June 12, moments before the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a college hostel in Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground.
The findings, based on cockpit voice recordings, captured an exchange in which one pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” and the other replied, “I didn’t.”
On the Boeing 787 – the model involved in the crash – the fuel cut-off switches are located between the pilots’ seats, just behind the throttle levers, and are designed with a locking mechanism to prevent accidental activation.
Despite this, the recorded exchange has sparked speculation over whether the fuel was shut off deliberately or by mistake, prompting strong objections from pilot associations.
The Airline Pilots Association of India (ALPA) told local media on Sunday it was considering legal action to secure representation in the investigative process, alleging that the preliminary report demonstrated a bias towards pilot error.