What we know about the Air India report
- icarussmith20
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
It's been just over 12 hours since the preliminary report into the Air India crash on 12 June was published by India's ministry of civil aviation.
Here's what we know:
The crash: The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was destined for Gatwick, departing from the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. It crashed into a densely populated area seconds after take-off, killing 260 people. The pilots issued a mayday signal.
The report: The fuel switches, which turn the engines on and off, were cut off shortly after take-off. They were then turned back on, but the engines failed to regain thrust. We learned that a pilot could be heard asking the other in a voice recording: why did you cut off? The other replied he did not do so. No significant faults have been found with the plane or its engines so far.
The Air India response: In a statement, the airline said it stands in solidarity with those affected. It acknowledges the report and says it will continue to work with the relevant authorities.
The reaction: Some of the relatives of crash victims feel frustrated. Dr Mario Donadi, colleague of victim Dr Prateek Joshi, says the report is "a huge slap in the face". Experts tell the BBC that the fuel switches cannot easily be knocked off. They're "protected against somebody just brushing against it," says professor Graham Braithwaite. The Airline Pilots' Association of India calls for further transparency with the investigation.
The next steps: Investigations will continue. There will be testing of fuel samples, analysis data of two inflight recorders and an analysis of post-mortem reports of the crew and passengers. A final report is expected within a year.
This story originally appeared on BBC News.
Comments