Air India Plane Crash: 10 Key Findings From The Initial Report

Indian investigators have released a preliminary report into the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people, while the final report is expected within a year of the deadly incident.

The initial report on the world's deadliest aviation accident in a decade offered glimpses into what happened before the plane crashed into a building in the city of Ahmedabad on June 12.

Almost immediately after the plane lifted off the ground, CCTV footage shows a backup energy source called a ram air turbine had deployed, indicating a loss of power from the engines.

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Here are the 10 key findings of the report released on Saturday by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB):

1. Fuel switches on 'cutoff'

Three seconds after liftoff from Ahmedabad, the fuel switches had almost simultaneously flipped from "run" to "cutoff". The preliminary report did not say how the switches could have flipped to the cutoff position during the flight. They flipped a second apart.

2. Pilot confusion

One pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. "The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report said.

It did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer.

3. No emergency indication

The report does not indicate there was any emergency requiring an engine cutoff. Flipping to cutoff is most often used to turn engines off once a plane has arrived at its airport gate and in certain emergency situations, such as an engine fire.

4. Losing thrust

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London immediately began to lose thrust and sink down within seconds of takeoff.

5. No recommendations to Boeing, GE

The report does not suggest that Boeing and engine maker GE had any apparent responsibility for the accident. It does not include any recommended actions aimed at operators of Boeing 787 jets or the GE engines.

6. 'Mayday' call
Before impact, one crew member transmitted a “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” call at 08:09:05 GMT. The report did not identify which pilot transmitted the clear distress call just before the crash.

7. Cockpit crew

The commanding pilot of the Air India plane was Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, who had a total flying experience of 15,638 hours and, according to the Indian government, was also an Air India instructor. His co-pilot was Clive Kunder, 32, who had 3,403 hours of total experience.

8. Investigation to continue

The investigation will continue and the investigative team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from the stakeholders. Agencies including the NTSB, FAA, and the UK's AAIB are assisting in investigations; further evidence collection continues.

9. No 'dangerous goods'

There were no "dangerous goods" on the aircraft, the report highlighted.

10. Fuel data

The fuel's take-off weight was 2,13,401 Kgs."The take-off weight was within allowable limits for the given conditions," as per the report.

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