Air India Crash: Probe Focuses on Boeing Jet's Fuel Switches
The Facts
- A preliminary report into the deadly Air India Boeing 787 crash that killed 260 people on June 12 is expected to be released by Friday, according to three sources with knowledge of the investigation.
- The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad at an altitude of 650 feet, killing 241 of 242 people onboard with the rest of the fatalities on the ground in the first hull loss of a 787.
- The investigation has narrowed its focus to the movement of the aircraft's engine fuel control switches following analysis of flight and voice data recorders found in the aircraft's two Flight Data Recorders, along with Boeing simulations of the final moments.
Sources Split
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The Spin
Narrative A
The focus on fuel control switches suggests potential human error or deliberate action in the cockpit. These switches are specifically designed with safety guards to prevent accidental activation, making any movement highly suspicious. The immediate loss of engine power from switch manipulation would explain the aircraft's sudden inability to maintain altitude after takeoff.
Narrative B
Mechanical failure remains a possibility despite current findings, as multiple contributing factors often cause most aviation disasters. Failing to account for the potential for equipment malfunction during the investigation could lead to significant oversights. Additionally, Boeing's participation in simulations and the absence of safety bulletins do not definitively rule out potential design or manufacturing issues.
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