Air India Plane Crash: The Airline Pilots Association of India (ALPA) on Saturday demanded a fair and fact-based investigation of the Air India aircraft accident. The association claimed that the style of investigation of the Air India aircraft accident and Disha indicates an inclination towards the mistake of the pilot. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its initial report of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft accident on June 12, killing 260 people.
The report has found that the fuel supply of both engine of Air India flight number AI 171 closed in an interval of one second, causing confusion in the cockpit and fell to the ground almost immediately after flying the aircraft. The fifteen -page report states that in recording the voice of the cockpit, one pilot is heard asking the other why he stopped the fuel, although the other pilot refused to shut down the fuel.
Tilt towards pilot’s mistake!
The ALPA said in a statement, “The style and Disha of the investigation indicates an inclination towards the pilot’s mistake … ALPA India clearly dismisses this perception and emphasizes the fair, fact-based investigation.” The association has also demanded that its representatives be made supervisors in the investigation process to ensure transparency and accountability. ALPA India, International Federation of Airline Pilots Association (IFALPA) is a ‘Member Associate’.
How did this accident happen?
According to a report by AAIB (Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation), soon after flying, both engines suddenly got fuel cutoff. However, it is not clear in the report why this happened. As soon as the aircraft flew, its indicated aircraft (IAS) reached 180 knots. At the same time, the fuel cutoff switch of the two engines, which normally live in ‘run’ mode, went into ‘Cutoff’ mode in a interval of just 1 second. Due to this, fuel supply to the engines stopped, and their N1 and N2 rotation speed started falling rapidly. This is believed to be the main reason for this aircraft accident.