Ahmedabad air crash probe must leave no room for doubt

A preliminary probe report has thrown some light on what led to the June 12 Air India plane crash, even though the whys and hows are yet to be ascertained. The report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) notes that the fuel supply to the two engines was cut off within a second of each other — almost immediately after takeoff. Did this happen due to electrical/software malfunction or human error? This all-important question has triggered intense speculation, even as the Airlines Pilots’ Association of India has alleged that the investigation seems to presume “pilot guilt” and has come to a premature conclusion.

A striking feature of the 15-page report is its cautious tone. The AAIB has stated that the sole objective of the probe is “the prevention of accidents and incidents and not to apportion blame or liability”. It has also pointed to the risk of drawing erroneous interpretations from this document. No action has been recommended for operators and manufacturers of Boeing 787 jets or GE (General Electric) engines. This is baffling as the US Federal Aviation Administration, in a special airworthiness bulletin issued in 2018, had flagged the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature on Boeing planes. Air India has told the AAIB that the suggested inspections were not conducted as the bulletin was “advisory and not mandatory”, even as no defect pertaining to the fuel control switch had been reported since 2023. This aspect of the case can’t be treated as a mere footnote; it merits a thorough investigation. Hopefully, the ongoing inquiry will painstakingly deal with this matter, which might have had a bearing on what went wrong aboard flight AI171.

The release of the preliminary report is a welcome step in the interest of transparency and clarity. It’s vital for the investigators to give due consideration to the feedback. The probe must leave no room for doubt.

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