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New Delhi/Pune, July 12, 2025 (ANI): After AAIB releases its preliminary report of Air India plane crash, civil aviation experts are raising serious questions about the Air India plane crash. Was it an engine failure? Or is there more to this tragedy? How did international media know beforehand? Watch this exclusive breakdown of expert reactions, technical concerns, and unanswered questions.
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00:00The AAIB report raises more questions than it answers because I find that you know it's two
00:14steps forward one step backwards there has been advisory on the malfunction of these switches
00:21by the FA some time back and it was advisory only FA is in regulatory authority for just like DGCA in US
00:32how were the US media alerted to all these issues three days ago Wall Street Journal carried it
00:40John Ostrover carried it the you know TAC which is a aviation magazine carried it so something
00:47does not seem totally correct here
00:51it's on the internet
00:55I don't know what the car is coming from the car
00:59Once you run it, after you cut off it, this process follows a process when the pilot is attempting to regain power in the engine
01:11it is 100% deciphered that there was an issue in the engine
01:16The AAIB should have made public the CVR entire CVR transcript with by just you know informing people about one line
01:26It leaves you know lots of questions hanging
01:29It was the most appropriate thing for the AAIB to have said in the last line of the report
01:46that there are no safety recommendations for either Boeing or General Electric
01:50that means you've literally you know washed your hands or you've decided that there is something else
01:56uh afoot here
01:57In this report, it was not anywhere else
01:59that it was a dual engine flame out
02:02Yes, in this report, it was said that the fuel cut-off switches
02:06closed and on
02:08both of them did it not
02:11It was the first one, it was the left engine, the right engine, the report is silent on that
02:17Frankly, the AAIB report raises more questions than it answers
02:21because I find that, you know, it's two steps forward one step backwards
02:27There are a lot of gaps
02:29Perhaps, you know, they will be filled in once the investigation goes further
02:33But I have a few issues of, you know, how were the US media alerted to all these issues three days ago?
02:42Wall Street Journal carried it, John Ostrover carried it
02:45The, you know, TAC which is a aviation magazine carried it
02:50So something does not seem totally correct here, that's number one
02:54Number two, on the basis of, you know, the report itself
02:59I feel the AAIB should have made public the CVR, entire CVR transcript
03:06With by just, you know, informing people about one line
03:10It leaves, you know, lots of questions hanging when they talk about the switches
03:15The third thing that I found is
03:18I do not believe that when the investigation was not yet complete
03:22It was the most appropriate thing for the AAIB to have said in the last line of the report
03:27That there are no safety recommendations for either Boeing or General Electric
03:33That means you've literally, you know, washed your hands or you've decided that there is something else afoot here
03:39In that case, they should have been more transparent and come out with what they felt was the case
03:44My reading is, both didn't know how it happened
03:47And if it's happened, that is where we need to investigate how it happened and why it happened
03:52That can only happen with the DFDR and the CVR readouts
03:56And we've been deprived of that
03:59At least the CVR, you know, transcript should have been shared
04:02The ministers, obviously the officials are saying that there is a complete report
04:06He has to become a decision in the report
04:08How much time does it take to, you know, come up with a detailed report
04:12And how is the investigation, the way investigation is going till now
04:15What is your take on it?
04:17Well, a detailed report takes anywhere between six months to a year
04:23I've known of some cases where it's even exceeded a year
04:26They've taken special permission, dispensation
04:28So it's not something that's going to happen in the next month or two months
04:32This is going to be a very detailed investigation
04:36Lots of ramifications
04:37And I'm glad that you pointed out that the Honorable Minister has said that it's only a preliminary report
04:44In that case, why give anybody a clean sheet at all?
04:47That's my question
04:48Why should we say that there are no safety recommendations?
04:51That line should not have even been there
04:53Because unless it was forced on somebody
04:55That's what I, as an Indian, you know, who's been in aviation for 40 years
05:01I get that impression
05:02And it's not a comfortable feeling
05:04I think the government must answer that
05:07And I do believe that, you know, I was on another channel earlier
05:10And I believe that, you know, maybe there should have been a judicial inquiry into this alongside the AAIB
05:16We have a bureaucratic team of bureaucrats who's looking at it
05:20But perhaps a sitting high court judge should have been, you know, ordered to look into this
05:25That would have given us absolute transparency
05:28This is an event, a catastrophic tragedy
05:32That will impact, could impact, you know, 1,200 787s flying around the world today
05:37That's what we need to look at
05:39So it's a very important thing
05:41So my last question, the technical snag
05:43Do you suspect the technical snag?
05:45Because, you know, you said this
05:46You're raising questions more than their answers
05:50Do you suspect that?
05:52Well, the technical snag, if at all
05:54We call it a snag
05:55Would be the FAA circular
05:57Of December 2018
06:00Which says, which advises all airlines to check
06:03The fuel switches
06:05To see if, you know, they're inadvertently
06:08Sliding back to cut off and run
06:10That's all I could say
06:13You know, we don't know if more will come out
06:16These are very preliminary, you know, inquiries and reports
06:20They'll need to see why the fuel was shut off into the engines
06:25Whether there was something else
06:27There's a possibility of something technical
06:30We don't know, we'll have to wait and see
06:32But, you know, not very encouraging signs to start with
06:36Last question, sir
06:37Just for a better understanding of performance people
06:39How these fuel switches have worked
06:41And how, you know, technical snag
06:43If it happens, how does it work?
06:45So, you know, what it is
06:47These fuel switches supply fuel to the engines
06:51On ground and in the air
06:52And they disconnect also
06:53So they have both operations
06:55They're generally used on ground
06:56To start or stop fuel that goes to the engines
06:59In mid-air, it's only used in case of a dual engine blowout
07:04Which in this case, you know, dual engine flameout
07:07We had both engines failing
07:09So that's when it is actually used
07:11It's a pull switch
07:12It's not something that slides automatically
07:14You have to lift it, spring load it
07:15It goes into an indent
07:17And then it falls back
07:18So they have guarded switches with rails
07:20So it just can't happen by mistake
07:22Accidental switching
07:23Is very unknown
07:27It's unknown
07:28I won't say ruled out
07:29It's unknown
07:30The other thing is that
07:31You know, if by any chance
07:34It was related to the 2018 FA directive
07:38We would have known
07:39But let's also remember
07:40Air India has got two new engines on this aircraft in 25
07:44And has replaced the throttle levers in 23
07:47There's been no complaint on this aircraft
07:50Of these switches
07:52So it's anybody's guess where this is going
07:54Basically, it is establishing
07:57What all happened in the cockpit
07:59What all communication took
08:01Between the pilot and the co-pilot
08:03And through DFDR
08:05We have come through a conclusion
08:08That what all switches were moved
08:11Or what all parameters were there during the crash
08:15So we can basically call it a fact-finding report
08:18That it has established some fact
08:21And also it has put some rumours to the rest
08:26Regarding take-off thrust not being produced
08:29Or flaps not in take-off configuration
08:32So those rumours also had been put to rest
08:34With this preliminary investigation report
08:37Sir, what could be during the conversation that the pilots had denying
08:42They did not do anything with the switches
08:44As again, I said, this is a fact-finding report
08:48And CVR recording has clearly established
08:53That the moment both the engines lost their thrust
08:57The pilot, the captain immediately asked the co-pilot
09:00Did you cut the fuel shut-off wall?
09:03And he immediately denied no with an answer
09:07So that indicates clearly that the fuel shut-off wall
09:11Has not been turned off by the pilots
09:13Intentionally
09:14Seems more likely it indicates towards a technical malfunction
09:19After the premiere, I'll be actually looking at
09:23With respect to the investigation
09:25First of all, we should congratulate our civil aviation minister
09:30And government of India
09:31To decide that this investigation will be held in India
09:36And will be conducted by India
09:38Because earlier, previously, there were some reports
09:41That these black boxes will be going to the US
09:43And that gets into the grey area
09:46You know, same company, same country
09:48Conducting the investigation
09:50So now, all these countries, other countries also
09:55They will be a participant in the investigation
09:58As an observer
09:58And India will be conducting this investigation
10:02And with this preliminary report
10:06That has come out within a month
10:07It is a very positive step towards this investigation
10:11And a relief to the victims and their families
10:13That a fair probe is being conducted
10:16And regarding indications like
10:19What all can be the reason
10:20That will come out only after the forensic investigation
10:25Of all the reports
10:27And what all happened in the cockpit
10:29And the electrical systems
10:31I'll just like to remind you
10:34There has been advisory on the malfunction of these switches
10:38By the FAA sometime back
10:40And it was advisory only
10:43FAA is a regulatory authority for
10:47Just like DGCA in the US
10:49So they issued an advisory regarding the malfunction of these switches
10:53So that angles also needs to be probed
10:56Sir, the government of India's final report
11:01Absolutely
11:02Should not reach on the conclusion
11:03Absolutely
11:03As I said, this is just a fact-finding report
11:06That what all happened in the cockpit
11:07And with the parameters
11:10And engine parameters
11:12DFDR has been monitoring those
11:14So now the role of the investigative agency
11:17Is to investigate and come to a conclusion
11:20That actually what led to this fuel cutoff
11:23Whether it was a pilot error
11:25Or whether it was a technical error
11:27So that is the job
11:28Obviously of the Aircraft Investigation Bureau
11:31Fuel cutoff switches
11:33Is one of the viewers
11:33To understand that
11:34These are switches primarily given by the manufacturer
11:37Boeing has this design
11:38That when you start the engine
11:41Then you use it
11:42And when you stop the engine
11:44Then you cut off the switch
11:46So there are two modes
11:47Run and cutoff
11:48Coming back to your question
11:50If you say that
11:51It is very unusual
11:52That you are starting to restart
11:55Attempt
11:56One time you run
11:57And the other time you cut off
11:59This is a process
12:01Followed by the pilot
12:02When the pilot is attempting to regain power in the engine
12:07It is 100% deciphered
12:10That there is an issue
12:11Pilot recognized
12:13There are very sophisticated aircraft
12:16There is a checklist
12:18Followed by the pilot
12:20There is a screen
12:21There is a pilot
12:22There is a screen
12:23And he tells you
12:24That this engine is gone
12:25And he tries to restart
12:26Attempt
12:27Attempt
12:28Look
12:29There is an important point
12:30That you have to see
12:32Human factors
12:33You have to see
12:34The pilots are human beings
12:35At the end of the day
12:36They give a training
12:37They follow a process
12:38And they move accordingly
12:40This is not an exercise
12:42That you have to start
12:44Engine start
12:45This is a protocol
12:46This is a procedure
12:47So if they are trying to get the engine back
12:51Now we must understand
12:55Time is critical
12:56400-600 feet above ground level
12:59If it is a plane
13:00You are talking in seconds
13:02You are not talking in minutes also
13:04This is a whole seconds exercise
13:06So in that
13:08Pilot is doing their actions
13:10Also
13:11They are also
13:12ATC to call
13:13In that way
13:14So they are very experienced
13:15Pilots
13:16The whole combination of the two pilots
13:18Almost
13:199000 hours
13:20So this was not their first flight
13:22They were very competent
13:24To fly this Boeing 7 and 7
13:25To fly this Boeing 7 and 7
13:27Sir
13:28What is the technique
13:29It is possible that
13:30Two engines
13:32They have to supply
13:33Two engines
13:34They have to supply
13:35Two engines
13:36How do you think
13:37How do you think
13:38How do you think
13:39How do you think
13:40How do you think
13:41How do you think
13:42With that
13:59These two engines
14:01One can do
14:02One can do
14:03One can do
14:04One can do
14:06One can do
14:07One can do
14:08Four
14:09Two can do
14:11if the fuel of the engine's flame-out is not happening in the report, this is a matter
14:17of investigation. Again, when we are going to detail in detail, we are going to do the
14:21things that are going to take place, whether this was on the fuel, whether it was a human
14:25error, whether it was any human factors involved, all these things are going to take place in
14:29the report. Sir, are such critical cities protected against accidental activation and
14:34mechanical management? See, the manufacturer's manufacturer's
14:40system is designed for a switch. Fuel, which are the switches, there is a locking mechanism.
14:47Inadvertently, if you think that if your hand is stuck or your hand is stuck, or if you
14:53have a push or a pull, these switches will not go automatically off. These switches are
15:01not guarded switches. One important thing is that there are switches of some kind of
15:06push-pull switches, guarded switches. This switch is not guarded switches. This is a locking mechanism
15:13definitely designed to be designed. Plus, there was a protection of it. If you have
15:19a side impact on the switch, or a FOD, which we call foreign object damage, or a foreign object
15:25damage, or something like that, if there is a situation that changes something, then this
15:30will not be closed. You have to open the switch automatically. You have to open the lock
15:34to open the lock. After that, the switch will also be cut-off. And sir, does this look like a design
15:39flaw, or a mechanical glitch, or something more complex?
15:41Look, it is too premature to say that it is a design flaw. Boeing 787, which order
15:48is in order? Boeing 787 is a very successful machine. Long haul aircraft is used to say it.
15:56It is used in long flights. It is used in long flights. Where you have said that it is a complex
16:02issue. Look, a pilot has a human factors, a very important role. This is a very serious job.
16:12One of the most important things, when I was studying this accident, when I was studying
16:17it, we had a startle effect. Again, this can be a situation. Where in due to startle effect,
16:26this is a kind of thing that inadvertently pilot, or because of human factors, or because of
16:32some other aspects, pilot changes things. There is one possibility also, that it can happen
16:39that in this aircraft, which in this report, it is just a thought process, this might be
16:46a theory, that there is some electrical failure in this aircraft. In that situation, the pilot
16:53must have thought, that this is a technical issue. Pilot must have thought, that this is
16:56a technical issue. Pilot has to switch on, off, on, off. I can do this. How can I do this
17:05to substantiate this? The ram air turbine, which they say, the turbine is out of the
17:10report, that the rat is out. So, there is a possibility of a human factor error also. But
17:16again, it is too premature to say that, that this report has no final outcome of this report.
17:21It has not come out of the report. It will not come out of the report.
17:23It will be further and further and further and further and further and further and further
17:24details, it will be found.
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