Air India Flight 171 crash killed 241 people on board and 19 on the ground last month. The preliminary report into the incident has sparked controversy over its conclusions, with experts claiming investigators have been selective in what they’ve released.
The report says two fuel cut-off switches were moved to the “cut-off” position seconds after take-off, depriving the engines of fuel and causing them to lose thrust. However, it does not provide direct evidence of who initiated this action or why.
Aviation industry experts point out that a transcript from the cockpit voice recorder is missing, which would have clarified the pilots’ conversation about the fuel cut-off switches. The report also doesn’t mention what happened in the cockpit immediately after the switches were flipped.
Critics say the report’s lack of detail and selectivity raises concerns about pilot safety. Some speculate that faulty switches or a pilot error may have contributed to the crash, but experts argue that more information is needed to draw firm conclusions.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has asked operators of affected aircraft to carry out inspections by July 21. However, the investigation is ongoing, and international protocols stipulate that a final report should be published within a year.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3lpdqp7x3o