In a shocking revelation, a preliminary report into the tragic Air India crash that claimed 261 lives has uncovered that both fuel cut-off switches in the cockpit were turned off just moments after takeoff. The incident occurred on June 12, as Flight AI-123 departed from Ahmedabad en route to London. Seconds into the flight, a baffling exchange between the pilots unfolded: one asked, “Why did you cut off the fuel?” to which the other responded, “I did not.” This chilling dialogue raises profound questions about what transpired in the cockpit.
The Boeing 787, equipped with two highly experienced pilots—one with over 15,000 flight hours and the other with 3,000—plunged just beyond the runway, resulting in the deaths of all but one of the 242 passengers on board and 19 individuals on the ground. Experts are grappling with the possibility of a technical malfunction, as it is deemed nearly impossible for both switches to be activated inadvertently. The report highlights the pilots’ confusion over the switch settings, leaving investigators searching for answers amid the wreckage.
While the Air Accident Investigation Bureau’s findings do not assign blame to Boeing or General Electric, the manufacturers of the aircraft and engines, Air India has pledged full cooperation with ongoing investigations. As the aviation community reels from this catastrophe, the quest for clarity intensifies. How could such a critical failure occur in a seemingly routine flight? The world watches closely as authorities delve deeper into this aviation enigma. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.