It’s not easy to ‘accidentally’ cut the fuel switch

The fuel switch that was cut off before the Air India aircraft crash was a type used on each flight, and was designed so that this could not easily “accidentally”, a flight expert said.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which is bound in London, crashed into a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12, killing 241 people on the ship.

19 others also died and 67 people were seriously injured.

An initial report from the Indian aircraft accident investigation bureau, published on Friday, said the two aircraft fuel switches were moved to the “cut-off” “” immediately “position after taking off, stopping the supply of fuel to the engine.

“In the Kokpit voice recording, one of the pilots was heard asking the other why he was cut-off. Another pilot answered that he did not do it,” the report said.

The switch is then returned to their normal inflight position, which triggers the automatic engine remover and the push recovery procedure.

While the engine began to recover, one of the pilots transmitted “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”, before the plane was seen by air traffic control to crash outside the airport.

The fuel switch is used at the end of each flight and in an emergency scenario such as fire, Director of Aerospace and Aviation at Cranfield University, Professor Graham Braithwaite said.

They are designed so that they cannot easily “accidentally” turned off and the pilot will generally run through a checklist before doing so, he said.

“For a clear reason, the two switches are separated, so it’s not far, but enough so that you cannot accidentally replace two when you try to switch one.

“So it’s not like the lights in your home, where they are right next to each other, so there are some rooms between them.

“They are in the middle console, so it’s between the two pilots, so that they can reach them with the same convenience.”

Professor Braithwaite said that if the switch had been moved by someone, it would be “a very unusual thing to do” under 1,000 feet.

“This is not the point of flight where you try and call your coffee, this is a flight period where your focus is very, very clear, and the first 1,000 feet, this is about keeping the plane climbing and it’s not about clicking the switch.”

He added: “I can see why the nervous leaflets will be nervous about the thought that it is possible to close the two machines at a critical stage in the flight, but for any reason, and that there are a number of things that are in place to stop it from happening accidentally.”

The plane was around 11 years old, the fuel switch was changed two years ago, and the accident was “really unusual events”, said Professor Braithwaite.

From the next stage of the investigation, he said: “If someone deliberately moves the switch, then on the one hand the intentional active sabotage, in this case the investigation changes significantly, because this safety investigation that issued a report yesterday will not lead it, it will be a police investigation.

“So it will change at that time, but if it is not clear that it is a deliberate action, you will see, well, what kind of mistakes might someone do?”

From general thinking about preliminary reports, he said the writers had “very careful in their words” to show that they remained “open -minded” about what could happen.

Indian water ‘cooperates’ with regulators

The only one who is still alive passengers is British Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who previously told The Sun that it was a “miracle” that he was still alive but felt “terrible” he could not save his brother Ajay.

Around 169 Indian passengers and 45 British citizens were killed, making him one of the deadliest aircraft accidents in terms of the number of British deaths.

If the final investigation takes more than a year to be completed, the temporary report will be issued at the accident warning, said Professor Braithwaite, added that temporary recommendations can be done at any time.

The preliminary report said that all crew members had breathed at their arrival at Ahmedabad Airport, which found that they “were suitable for operating flights”.

There is no significant bird activity seen near the flight path and the aircraft began to lose a height before crossing the airport perimeter wall.

Both machines were taken from ruins and quarantined in the hangar at the nearest airport.

Investigators have identified “interesting components for further inspection”, said the report.

The fuel sample taken from the tank used to refuel the aircraft was “satisfying”.

The statement has been taken from Ramesh and witnesses by the investigator, who will also see a report on the post-mortem inspection of the crew and passengers.

This is being carried out “to strengthen aeromedis findings with technical appreciation,” added the report.

An Indian water spokesman said: “Indian water stands in solidarity with family and those affected by AI171 accidents. We continue to lament losses and are fully committed to providing support during this difficult time.”

The spokesperson added: “Air India cooperates with stakeholders, including regulators.

“We continue to work fully with the aircraft accident investigation bureau (AIB) and other authorities when their investigation takes place.

“Given the active nature of the investigation, we cannot comment on specific details and refer to all these questions to AIB.”

Rosie Shead and Helen William, Pa