A preliminary investigation into last month’s fatal Air India crash has revealed that both fuel control switches were in the cut-off position—effectively shutting off the engines—moments before the aircraft went down, killing at least 260 people.

The report, released by aviation authorities, highlights a possible miscommunication between the two pilots in the cockpit. 

A voice recording retrieved from the flight data recorder captures one pilot asking his colleague, “Why did you do the cut-off?”, to which the other responds, “I didn’t.”

The cut-off position on the fuel switches is typically used to shut down engines intentionally. Investigators are now probing whether this step was taken mistakenly or due to a malfunction.

The crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff, left only one survivor—British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh—who managed to escape through a breach in the fuselage. His survival remains nothing short of miraculous, say officials.

Air India has said it is "fully cooperating" with investigators. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing also issued a statement, saying its “thoughts remain with the victims’ families and loved ones during this difficult time.”

BBC India correspondent Soutik Biswas reports that while the preliminary findings offer critical insight into the sequence of events, several key questions remain unanswered. 

Aviation experts stress the importance of waiting for the final investigation report, which will analyze the full scope of technical data, cockpit procedures, and human factors involved in the crash.

The accident marks one of the deadliest aviation disasters involving Air India in recent years, prompting calls for a comprehensive review of pilot training, safety protocols, and aircraft systems.

Source: BBC

SMS/