Ahmedabad plane crash-15 page prelim report reveals fuel to both engines cut-off
It has been a full month since the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad. On this day, on June 12, Air India flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London crashed into a medical hostel building within minutes of takeoff. 270 people died in a very painful death in the accident.
A month after the Ahmedabad plane crash, the preliminary investigation report has arrived. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) made public a 15-page report on July 12. According to the preliminary investigation, this accident happened due to both the engines of the plane shutting down.
Immediately after takeoff, both the fuel switches were turned off one by one, due to which both the engines also stopped. During this, the cockpit recording has revealed that one pilot had asked the other, why he ‘did the cut-off’ while the other replied, ‘he didn’t’.
According to the report, the fuel switches of both the engines were ‘cut-off’ in the accident plane, after which the pilots turned it on and tried to restart both the engines. But the plane was at a very low altitude, so the engines did not get time to regain power and the plane crashed. However, it has not been revealed how the fuel switches were turned off.
According to the 15-page report, the entire flight from takeoff to the accident lasted only about 30 seconds. Till now, no warning or action has been recommended for any operator regarding the Boeing 787-8 aircraft and GE GEnx-1B engine in the report. Also, there is no mention of any reason like weather, bird-hit and sabotage in the report.
The report also stated that as soon as the engine was turned off, the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) opened. It is a small propeller-like device. It rotates at the speed of wind and produces electricity and hydraulic power. Especially when the main power of the aircraft is cut off, or the hydraulic system fails. RAT helps keep the aircraft’s navigation and control systems at least partially operational.
