Janhit: Ahmedabad Tragedy: Are Powerful Firms Escaping Accountability Again? | ABP NEWS

The preliminary investigation report into the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 near Ahmedabad has sparked intense scrutiny and concern. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, en route to London, crashed just seconds after takeoff, killing all 141 passengers onboard and 19 people on the ground. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India released its early findings, revealing that both engines of the aircraft shut down within a second due to a sudden fuel cut-off. This technical detail is critical — yet the report offers no clear explanation of how or why the fuel switches were turned off. The report surprisingly does not hold aircraft manufacturer Boeing or engine-maker General Electric accountable, stating that no recommendations for action against them are being made at this stage. This has raised concerns about bias, especially as U.S. media outlets like The New York Times and Reuters quickly pointed fingers at the Indian pilots. Flight data from the aircraft’s black box reveals that the pilots attempted to restart the engines and issued multiple "Mayday" calls. One pilot was heard asking why the engine was shut down, to which the other responded with confusion. Both pilots were highly experienced — Captain Sumit Sabhrawal had over 15,000 flight hours, and First Officer Clive Kundra had over 3,000 hours on Dreamliners. Experts point to a 2018 FAA advisory warning of a potential issue where fuel switches might disengage due to mechanical wear. Despite this, the switches were never mandated to be replaced or checked globally. Aviation analysts fear this may be another instance where powerful corporations avoid responsibility, while deceased pilots — unable to defend themselves — are blamed. The final investigation report is still pending, but serious questions about transparency and accountability remain.

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