A Grim Milestone In Air Crash Probe

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has achieved a significant milestone. For the first time, it has utilised its own laboratory in Delhi to decode the black box—more accurately, the orange flight data recorder—of a major air crash. The tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 near Ahmedabad on June 12, which claimed 260 lives, has placed India’s air accident investigative capabilities in global focus. Yet, the findings raise more questions than they answer. The Boeing Dreamliner, arriving from New Delhi, was en route to London’s Gatwick when it crashed just 96 seconds after take-off. The preliminary report suggests the catastrophe occurred due to the locking of the fuel control switch, which prevented fuel from reaching both engines. Although the Ram Air Turbine, an emergency system, was deployed automatically, it was too late to make a difference.

The report establishes that the engines were starved of fuel—but why? The fuel control switch, critical to engine performance, was found in the “off” position. A brief cockpit conversation recorded during the fatal 90 seconds revealed one pilot questioning the other about turning off the switch, receiving a firm denial. The possibility that it was switched off accidentally or due to a technical glitch has not been ruled out. More worryingly, questions have emerged about whether someone accessed the engine after the plane’s arrival in Ahmedabad and before its international take-off—intentionally or otherwise. The pilot fraternity is understandably alarmed by the insinuation that human error, rather than a mechanical or design flaw, led to one of the worst aviation disasters in history. The preliminary report has already ruled out bird hits, fuel contamination, inclement weather, and pilot fatigue. However, the haste with which the blame is shifting toward crew error raises eyebrows, especially when the switch in question is not known to shut off automatically. Was there a lapse in pre-flight checks? Or is there a deeper systemic failure?

The report’s selective disclosures and the fact that it first surfaced in the American media have only added fuel to the fire. There is a growing concern that the narrative is being steered to protect the aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, a company already under intense scrutiny globally. Transparency is paramount in such investigations, and public trust depends on it. While the AAIB deserves praise for conducting the technical investigation entirely within India, a first, it must ensure that its final report upholds the highest standards of transparency and accountability. The loss of 260 lives demands nothing less. The safety of future passengers and the credibility of civil aviation oversight depend on honest, thorough answers. Let us not rush to conclusions. The final report is still awaited. Until then, speculation must give way to patience, and accountability must remain the central goal.

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