The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released a 15-page preliminary report detailing the events leading to the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad, involving a Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The report sheds light on the sequence of events and engine performance during the incident, which claimed 260 lives, including 240 of the 241 passengers onboard, after the plane crashed into the hostel premises of BJ Medical College near Ahmedabad airport.
Here are 10 critical findings from the report:
- Fuel Cutoff Triggered: At 13:38:42 IST, as the aircraft reached 180 knots IAS, both engines’ fuel cutoff switches shifted from “Run” to “Cutoff.”
- Relight Attempts Made: Within seconds, pilots moved the fuel switches for both engines back to “Run,” with rising Exhaust Gas Temperatures (EGTs) indicating attempts to restart the engines.
- Pilot Confusion Captured: Cockpit voice recordings revealed one pilot asking, “Why did you cut off?” with the other responding, “I did not do so,” hinting at possible miscommunication.
- Engines Lost Power: Data from the Engine and Aircraft Flight Recorder (EAFR) showed that N2 values in both engines dropped below minimum idle speed.
- Engine 1 Recovery Signs: Engine 1 briefly showed signs of recovery as its core deceleration stopped and began to stabilize.
- Engine 2 Failure Persisted: Despite relight efforts, Engine 2 could not maintain core speed and continued to decelerate.
- Damaged Flight Recorder: The aft EAFR was severely damaged, preventing data retrieval through standard methods, according to the AAIB.
Also read: Air India Crash: Initial Findings Submitted to Aviation Ministry - Combustion During Relight: EAFR data confirmed combustion in both engines, as EGTs rose after the fuel switches were returned to “Run.”
- No Safety Recommendations Yet: The AAIB has not issued safety directives for Boeing 787-8 operators or General Electric, the maker of the GE GEnx-1B engines, at this stage.
- Ongoing Investigation: The AAIB is continuing its probe, gathering further evidence from stakeholders for the next phase.
The crash has sparked significant backlash against Boeing, but no immediate actions have been recommended for the manufacturer or operators of the Boeing 787-8 or its GE GEnx-1B engines. Boeing issued a statement deferring to the AAIB for details, in line with the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization Annex 13 protocol. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to uncover the full cause of the tragedy.
