The preliminary report into the crash of Air India Flight 171, which tragically resulted in 260 fatalities back in June, was released with hopes of providing closure, but instead, it sparked further speculation. The report details a chilling moment shortly after take-off, where both fuel-control switches on the Boeing 787 were moved to "cut-off," causing complete engine failure—a maneuver typically only executed during landing. Cockpit recordings reveal a tense exchange between the pilots, with one asking the other why they "did the cut-off," to which the response was an unequivocal denial.
In under a minute, the aircraft crashed into a densely populated area of Ahmedabad, leaving analysts and investigators with pressing questions. Among the speculations, reports suggest that the focus may be shifting to the senior pilot, raising concerns in the aviation community. While pilots had over 19,000 flying hours combined, this incident has led to a wave of mistrust, with India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) criticizing media outlets for drawing premature conclusions.
The cockpit recordings have sparked debate; an expert pointed out that if one pilot unknowingly operated the switches, their denial could make sense. Conversely, if the action was intentional, it could reflect a deliberate attempt to mislead investigators. The lack of clarity surrounding the cockpit exchange—what was actually said and by whom—has intensified the scrutiny.
Authorities highlight that while evidence shows the switches were manually turned off, they prefer to keep an open mind, as a potential glitch in the plane's systems could have caused the issue. The absence of a complete transcript is fueling speculation about what the full conversation entailed and why certain elements were withheld from the public.
As alternative theories emerge, including the possibility of an electrical fire, the preliminary report confirms that power loss resulted directly from the fuel switches being turned off. AAIB chief GVG Yugandhar emphasized that this report was meant to address "WHAT" occurred, but it's premature for definitive conclusions. While some speculate on human error or intent behind the pilot's actions, others caution against leaping to conclusions without complete evidence.
In the end, as experts weigh the possibilities—be it a result of error, confusion, or automation issues—the search for answers continues, leaving many questions lingering in the aftermath of this tragic event.
