Air India Crash: Captain Calmly Cut Off Fuel Supply, Co-Pilot Reacted in Panic

According to the report, the captain of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner manually moved the switches controlling fuel flow to the “cutoff” position moments after the plane left the runway.

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In a chilling revelation about last month’s fatal Air India crash, cockpit recordings suggest that the aircraft’s captain turned off the fuel supply to the engines shortly after takeoff. The incident, which took place on June 12, claimed the lives of 260 people. The details emerged from a Wall Street Journal report, quoted by Reuters, based on early assessments by US investigators.

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According to the report, the captain of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner manually moved the switches controlling fuel flow to the “cutoff” position moments after the plane left the runway. The co-pilot, who was flying the aircraft at the time, appeared startled by the move and questioned the captain's decision. The recording indicates growing panic from the co-pilot, while the captain remained calm throughout the exchange.

The two pilots involved have been identified as Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with over 15,600 hours of flight experience, and First Officer Clive Kunder, who had logged more than 3,400 hours in the cockpit.

An initial report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) pointed to confusion in the cockpit just before the crash. It also raised concerns over how and why the engine fuel switches were operated at such a crucial moment.

As the investigation continues, Air India has taken steps to inspect its Boeing 787-8 fleet. The airline confirmed on Wednesday that it completed precautionary checks on all planes for possible issues with the Fuel Control Switch mechanism. No problems were found during the inspections, which were carried out following a directive from India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA.

Additionally, the airline stated that all its Dreamliner aircraft had undergone throttle control system replacements earlier, in line with Boeing’s maintenance guidelines.

Officials from Boeing, Air India, and the DGCA have yet to respond to the recent reports about the cockpit conversation and possible human error.

Also Read: “Why Did You Cut Off?”: Pilot’s Last Words Before Air India Jet Crashed, Killing 260

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