Pilots' union seeks fair investigation

AIRLINE PILOTS' ASSOCIATION of India demanded a fair and fact-based probe into the Air India plane crash as it claimed that the tone and direction of the investigation into the Air India plane crash suggests a bias towards pilot error.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

WHILE THE PRELIMINARY findings of the investigation into the June 12 Air India crash, submitted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), reveal a sudden loss of power in the aircraft, the exact cause of the abrupt stoppage of fuel supply to both engines remains unclear.

The report states that both engines shut down just seconds after takeoff, following the transition of the fuel cutoff switches from the 'Run' to 'Cutoff' position—one after the other.

According to the cockpit voice recorder, one pilot was heard asking the other, "Why did he cut off?" To which the other pilot responded that he had not done so.

A few seconds later, the fuel switch for one engine was returned to the 'Run' position. Both engines subsequently relighted but failed to accelerate or recover core speed, the report noted.