A new preliminary report into the deadly Air India crash last month reveals a heartbreaking discovery: both fuel control switches—which essentially shut off a plane’s engines—were turned to the “cut-off” position just seconds before the aircraft went down.
This action is normally done during shutdown procedures after landing, not mid-flight. The crash, which killed at least 260 people, now appears to have been triggered by this critical move.
Cockpit Confusion Captured in Recording
The cockpit voice recorder reveals a troubling exchange between the pilots. One pilot is heard asking the other, “Why did you do the cut-off?” The other pilot responds, saying he didn’t touch the switch. This confusion highlights a lack of coordination in the cockpit just before the tragedy.
Air India Responds
In a brief statement, Air India said it is continuing to “fully cooperate” with the authorities as the investigation continues.
The Sole Survivor’s Incredible Escape
British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh was the only person to survive the crash. He managed to escape through a break in the fuselage and walk away from the wreckage. “I still cannot believe how I made it out alive,” he said.
Families Left with Questions and Heartbreak
Shweta Parihar, 41, lost her husband, Abhinav, in the crash. Speaking from Delhi, she shared her heartbreak with the BBC. “We trusted the airline,” she said tearfully. “What’s the point of this investigation now? We’re finished.”
Her 11-year-old son keeps asking haunting questions: “Did he suffer? Did he burn?”
Shweta says her son now refuses to ever fly Air India again.
Experts Praise the Report’s Candor
Despite the pain it reveals, aviation expert Peter Goelz, a former head of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, commended the Indian authorities for their honesty and attention to detail.
“This is one of the most transparent preliminary reports I’ve seen,” Goelz said, noting that such reports are often vague—especially when they involve a country’s former national airline.
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