AI had changed the throttle control module (TCM) of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft (TCM) twice in the last 6 years following Boeing’s instructions in 2019. TCM includes fuel control switches. The ongoing investigation into this deadly accident has revealed that the fuel control switches of the two engine had gone into a second-cut-cut-off ‘position from’ run ‘from’ run ‘in a second interval of AIDabad Airport in Boeing Dreamliner aircraft of Air India, which led to confusion in the Cockpit of AI’s flight number 171.
The report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AIIB) on Saturday morning revealed that the senior pilot asked his junior- ‘Why did you turn off the fuel control?’. In response, Junior Pilot had said, ‘I did not switch off’. The height of the aircraft was immediately decreased due to the fuel control switch from the ‘run’ to ‘cutoff’. The aircraft fell on a building of Bij Medical College in Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad immediately after take off. 260 people were killed in this accident. Out of 242 people aboard the aircraft, including the crew, only 1 person was left alive. 19 students of the medical college also fell victim to this accident.
Also read: Air India Plane Crash: Hotel Refund, Lugs Los and Accidental Death Cover … In front of insurance companies, victims did these big claims
AI changed TCM in 2019 and 2023
In the AAIB Preliminary Investigation Report, TCM is mentioned twice in 2019 and 2023. The report also said that there was no relation with fuel control switch to change TCM. The source told PTI that a revised maintenance plan document (MPD) was released by Boeing in 2019 for all the operators of Dreamliner. According to this, the operators were suggested to change TCM after the 24,000 -hour flight was completed. After the 2019 MPD was released by Boeing, AI had changed TCM twice in the crashed aircraft in 2019 and 2023. In this regard, PTI tried to take feedback from Air India, but it has not yet answered the questions.
In response to the questions sent to Boeing, the company spokesperson said on Sunday that the company will continue to help in the investigation. AAIB had said in its report on Saturday that in this stage of investigation, ‘B787-8 or GE GENX-1B has not been recommended for any action against engine operators and manufacturers.’ The Dreamliner VT-ANB of Air India, crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, had a GE Genx-1B engine. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on December 17, 2018 identified the locking features of the fuel control switch in Boeing aircraft as a possible problem.
Also read: ‘How the engine failed, why not mention in the report?’, Experts raised questions on the investigation report of Air India plane crash
Us regulator warn on fuel switch in 2018
Air India told the AAIB team investigating the Ahmedabad aircraft accident that it did not conduct inspections suggested by FAA, as it was not compulsory to do it. The report also said that all necessary inspections in the crashed aircraft were currently conducted and also received a valid flight qualification certificate. The report said, ‘However, the reason for changing TMC was not related to the fuel control switch. No problem related to Fuel Control Switch was reported in the crashed VT-ANB since 2023. According to the report, the fuel control switch from the ‘run’ of the Fuel Control Switch from the ‘Cut-off mode’ in Air India’s flight number 171 was revived the fuel control switch of both the engines, but the aircraft could not achieve enough speed and height and fell to a building of the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad.
—- End —-