Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad \u00096 India\u0000e2\u000080\u000099s federal civil aviation minister, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, urged patience on Saturday after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the June 12 B787-8 Dreamliner crash that killed 260 people. "This is a preliminary report right now," Kinjarapu told the media. "It would be better if we comment once the final report comes in."
According to the 15-page document, the fuel supply to the engines was cut off during a critical moment of confusion over an engine switch movement inside the cockpit. With dual engines shutting down almost simultaneously, the pilots had little time to react.
While the preliminary report stopped short of identifying any significant fault with the aircraft or its engines, it also did not call for immediate action from the manufacturer or the airline. The findings serve as a snapshot in time, and aviation experts warn that the full investigation could still reveal new insights.
Both Air India and Boeing have pledged ongoing support to the AAIB as it carries the investigation forward. Their cooperation will be essential in piecing together the chain of events that led to India\u0000e2\u000080\u000099s worst aviation accident in decades.
The London-bound Dreamliner took off from Ahmedabad\u0000e2\u000080\u000099s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, located about 17 kilometers south of Gandhinagar, before tragedy struck. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived the deadly crash\u0000e2\u000080\u000094underscoring the urgency for a thorough and final AAIB report.
The AAIB, a government body tasked with investigating aircraft accidents in India, convened a multidisciplinary team just one day after the crash. Following established international norms, the bureau has since worked to analyze flight data, cockpit recordings, and wreckage to build a complete picture. Aviation watchers worldwide are now on standby for the final report, which will bring clarity to the incident and guide future safety measures.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
