The preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) regarding the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has prompted a grieving family member to raise critical questions about aviation safety. Yashpal Singh Vansadia, who tragically lost his parents in the accident, is seeking to understand whether all prescribed safety checks were diligently carried out on the aircraft before the fatal flight.
Vansadia expressed his concerns, stating that the report indicated a possible technical issue, with a pilot questioning the other about the switch. “Were all the required preventive maintenance checks performed on the aircraft?” he questioned, emphasizing his need for clarification. The devastating crash claimed the lives of 260 individuals, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground.
The 15-page AAIB report details the tragic events of the crash, which unfolded rapidly after takeoff. Both engines of the aircraft failed during the initial climb, leading to a complete loss of thrust and a rapid descent. Flight data from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) revealed that the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were inadvertently moved from RUN to CUTOFF within a 1-second interval soon after liftoff. One pilot was heard asking the other, “Why did you cut off?” with the reply, “I did not.” Flight AI171 was a scheduled service from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, carrying 230 passengers and crew. The full report is expected in the coming months. This tragic event ranks among the deadliest aviation accidents in recent Indian history.