The preliminary accident report into the crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner on June 12, which killed 260 people, shows that shortly after takeoff, the fuel switches of both engines disappeared into the "cutoff" position almost simultaneously. This led to fuel shortages and engine failures.
The Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London, lost power almost immediately after takeoff and rapidly dropped in altitude, surveillance camera footage shows. The deployment of the so-called ram air turbine, an emergency power supply, indicated a sudden power failure from the engines.
The cockpit voice recorder shows how one of the pilots asks the other why he shut off the fuel supply. The colleague denies having done so. The report is inconclusive as to which pilot broadcast the call "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday" in the final seconds before the crash.
Both switches would have changed to "cutoff" within one second, an action normally used only on the ground or in a serious emergency. Investigators do not yet report how the switches could get to that position in flight. Near the wreckage, the switches were later found in the "run" position, with indications that the engines would have restarted shortly before impact.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu warned against hasty conclusions, pointing out that the well-being of the pilots will be safeguarded until the final report is released. The crash presents a new challenge for Tata Group, responsible for Air India since its takeover in 2022, in their efforts to restore the airline's reputation.
