India’s investigation into last year’s fatal Air India Boeing Co. 787 crash is now focusing on pilot action as the main cause. You see investigators moving away from technical faults and looking closely at what happened inside the cockpit.
Mechanical failure ruled out
Officials have ruled out mechanical failure and found no signs of sabotage. You now know the inquiry centres only on actions taken by the pilots during the final moments of the flight.
Final report due in June
A final report is expected before June, one year after the London-bound aircraft crashed 32 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad. You are reminded that the crash killed everyone on board.
Joint probe with US agencies
A key stage of the probe happened in December when Indian officials visited the US. You see India’s Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau working with the National Transportation Safety Board to analyse flight data.
Focus on fuel switch movement
Investigators examined cockpit voice recordings and flight data. You learn they checked whether fuel switches were deliberately moved to the cut-off position. The preliminary report confirmed both engines shut down but did not assign blame.
Audio analysis faced problems
Heavy cockpit noise during takeoff made audio analysis difficult. You now understand why investigators are cautious in drawing final conclusions from the recordings.
Blame could trigger backlash
Any direct blame on the pilots will spark controversy in India. You already see pilot unions and the commander’s family challenging the findings and demanding an independent probe.
Impact on Air India
The crash has disrupted Air India’s turnaround plans. You also see increased scrutiny on the airline’s leadership and internal operations after the incident.
