The preliminary investigation into last month’s Air India Dreamliner crash has revealed that both engines lost power mid-air after their fuel control switches were set to the “cut-off” position which is a configuration that normally shuts down engine fuel supply. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff when the aircraft, a Boeing 787, crashed while attempting to recover from engine failure. According to the initial report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the aircraft was airworthy with no history of issues related to its fuel switches. A cockpit voice recording captured a moment of confusion between the two pilots. One is heard asking, “Why did you do the cut-off?”, with the other responding, “I didn’t.” Investigators believe this miscommunication may have led to the unintended shutdown of both engines. The report further notes that the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed immediately after engine failure, and a mayday call was made. Although an attempt to relight one engine was made, it did not succeed in time to avoid disaster. The aircraft crashed in a nose-up position but with both engines out. Debris from the crash was scattered over a stretch of nearly 1,000 feet. Despite earlier claims, the report confirms that the aircraft had only minor maintenance deferrals, none of which were related to fuel controls. The final cause of the crash remains under review, with investigators focusing on cockpit procedures, crew coordination, and the possibility of inadvertent switch activation.
