Amid rising theories regarding the Air India Flight 171 disaster, a preliminary report has been released, still leaving critical questions unanswered. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which went down within a minute of departing from Ahmedabad for London, resulted in the death of 241 passengers and 19 individuals on the ground, with only one survivor.
Issued by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the 15-page document is part of an international protocol requiring states to present an initial account of the incident within 30 days. Although US interests are involved due to Boeing and GE Aerospace’s connection to the aircraft, the AAIB has highlighted several troubling points that provide few conclusions about the crash's cause.
The report does note that fuel cut-off switches were moved to the "cut-off" position shortly after takeoff, resulting in the engines losing thrust. While the engines were reportedly restarted later, it was too late to avoid the crash. One pilot questioned the other regarding the switch’s movement, but direct quotes from the cockpit voice recorder were absent, not revealing who made the statements.
Experts have criticized the report for not presenting a comprehensive view. While it fulfills a protocol requirement, it prompts further speculation, including allegations of intentional actions by the pilots—claims that have drawn sharp rebukes from the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association. They denounced such assertions as irresponsible and unethical given the absence of verified data.
Many in the aviation community believe significant details remain undisclosed. Critics argue the lack of a transcript from the cockpit voice recorder leaves the pilots' conversation concerning the fuel switches ambiguous. Questions linger about the precise conditions leading to the switches' movements and whether safety inspections for fuel switches, as suggested by a 2018 FAA safety bulletin, were neglected.
Further complicating the narrative, the report mentions previous replacements of the throttle control module but lacks detailed insight into the engines' statuses prior to the switch operations, with experts expressing concerns about potential cover-ups or omissions. Others believe the report hints at an explanation while remaining vague to elude legal implications.
While a final report is expected within a year, investigations of this nature can often extend well beyond that timeline, leaving affected families and the aviation industry in wait for clarity and resolution.
