Fuel was cut off during take-off: Preliminary report on Air India crash

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In the cockpit voice recording, the report says, “one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so”.

PHOTO: REUTERS

BENGALURU – The fuel control switch went off within three seconds of take-off, leading both engines to shut down moments before the Air India Boeing 787 London-bound flight crashed in Ahmedabad, said a preliminary report by the Indian government.

The 15-page report was released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) late on July 11, detailing findings from its probe into the

plane crash on June 12 that killed 260 people

The crux of

the preliminary report

In the cockpit voice recording, the report says, “one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so”.

Within 32 seconds of taking off, the plane had crashed into buildings just outside the Sardar Vallabhai Patel airport, including a medical college hostel.

These details were retrieved from an Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR),commonly known as the black box, in the forward section of the plane. The rear black