Dismay, unease among AI pilots after crash report

They flag its 'vague' language and omission of key technical details

- DEEPAK PATEL

Air India pilots are "deeply disturbed" and "demoralised" by what they claim is an ambiguous preliminary report that hints at pilot error while failing to account for known technical concerns, following last month's fatal crash of flight AI171 near Ahmedabad.

Speaking to Business Standard, pilots criticised the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary findings — released on Saturday — for using vague language and omitting key technical details.

The report stated that both engine fuel control switches on the Boeing 787-8 "transitioned" from "RUN" to "CUTOFF" just three seconds after takeoff on June 12, resulting in a sudden dual-engine power loss. But it does not clarify whether the switches were moved manually, shifted due to mechanical failure, or activated by an electrical fault.

These switches, located on the Boeing 787-8's throttle quadrant, stop fuel supply to the engines when moved to "CUTOFF".

"Did someone move them by hand, or did the system interpret some error and act on its own?" asked one senior captain.

The switches are spring-loaded and require a deliberate pull-and-turn motion, making accidental movement highly unlikely. "The likelihood of both failing together — within one second — is minuscule unless something seriously went wrong in the switch mechanism or aircraft electronics," said another pilot.

Some questioned whether the switches "transitioned" physically or whether the aircraft's computers simply behaved as if they had, due to a fault. "The flight data recorder may be recording what the system did, not necessarily what the switches physically showed," one said, highlighting a key gap in the report.

Another veteran pilot stated bluntly: "If both engines lost thrust simultaneously after takeoff, and the fuel cutoffs weren't commanded by the crew, we're all flying with a wing and a prayer. Until they find the actual cause, it must be treated as a dual engine failure."