• Source:JND
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As the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report on the fatal Air India crash last month, the experts have hinted at a possible deliberate crash.

NDTV quoted Captain Mohan Ranganathan, one of India's leading aviation experts, who suggested that the sequence of fuel cut off and cockpit audio points towards a deliberate attempt, which could even be suicide.

He stressed that there is no provision for an automatic cut-off in the Boeing 787-B Dreamliner, and it has to be done manually. "It cannot be done automatically or due to a power failure because the fuel selectors are not the sliding type. They are designed to stay in a slot, and you have to pull them out to move them up or down. So, the possibility of inadvertently moving them to the "off" position doesn't arise. It's definitely a case of deliberate manual selection to move it off", NDTV quoted Capt Ranganathan.

The audio from the cockpit confirms that both fuel switches were moved to the cut-off, which turned off both engines. In the audio, one of the pilots questioned the fuel cut-off to both engines, and the other responded by saying that he had not done it.

Pilots' Association objects to report  

Meanwhile, the Pilots’ Association of India registered its strong objection to the initial AAIB probe report into the Ahmedabad plane crash, saying that the investigation is being done presuming that the pilots were at fault.

The association questioned the efficiency of investigators, saying, "suitably qualified personnel are not taken on board", expressing shock at 'secrecy' behind the investigation.

The association pointed to an article published in the Wall Street Journal, which claimed that the whole investigation revolved around the movement of fuel control switches.

Underscoring the possibility of malfunction in switches, the association said, "We would like to crucially highlight the fact that the Wall Street Journal published an article on the 10th of July referring to the inadvertent movement of the fuel control switches. How did this information reach them? There is a reference to a bulletin on the serviceability of the fuel control switch gates indicating that there could be a potential malfunction," the Association’s statement said.

"We feel that the investigation is being driven in a direction presuming the guilt of pilots and we strongly object to this line of thought," the statement added.

Union Aviation Minister requests to wait for final report

Reacting to the AAIB report, Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has urged not to jump to any conclusion based on the report, given its preliminary nature.

"I don't think we should jump into any conclusions over this. I believe we have the most wonderful workforce of pilots and crew in the whole world. I have to appreciate all the efforts the pilots and crew of the country are putting; they are the backbone of civil aviation. They are the primary resource of civil aviation. We care for the welfare and well-being of the pilots also. So let us not jump into any conclusions at this stage and wait for the final report," said.

"There are technicalities involved. It will be very premature to comment on the report. The preliminary has come in but we have to wait for something concrete to come in," he added.