Air India Plane Crash: Civil Aviation Minister Urges 'Don't Jump To Conclusion' Based On Preliminary Report

As the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday published its preliminary report on the June 12 Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which killed over 260 people, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu urged the public and media to refrain from jumping to conclusions until the final findings are released.

On June 12, Air India's AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 plane, operating between Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and London Gatwick Airport, crashed into Ahmedabad's B J Medical College within 32 seconds after taking off due to several technical glitches.

Speaking to ANI, the union minister said, "This is a preliminary report, at the ministry we are analysing it...We are coordinating with AIBB for any support they need. We are hoping that the final reports come out soon so that we can arrive at some conclusion."

Further expressing faith in the country's pilots, he said,"I truly believe we have the most wonderful workforce in terms of pilots and the crew in the whole world have to Pilots and crew are the backbone of the aviation industry."

About The Crash Report

In its preliminary report, AAIB mentioned that the engine fuel control switches of the plane were cut off seconds after the lift off, with one of the pilots asking the other why he cut off, and the latter responding saying he did not do.

Here we have the highlights of the report.

1. 230 passengers and 12 crew members were onboard the aircraft. Fifteen passengers were in business class and 215 passengers, including two infants, in economy class.

2. 54,200 kilograms of fuel onboard; aircraft's take off weight of 2,13,401 kgs within permissible limits. No 'Dangerous Goods' were in the aircraft.

3. The Air India aircraft lifted off at 08:08:39 UTC (13:08:39 IST) engine fuel control switches turned off with a time gap of 1 second. The switches were turned on later.

4. At about 08:09:05 UTC (13:09:05 hours IST), one of the pilots transmitted 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY'. Air Traffic Controller enquired about the call sign but did not get any response and saw aircraft crashing outside airport boundary.

5. At about 08:09:05 UTC (13:09:05 hours IST), one of the pilots transmitted 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY'. Air Traffic Controller enquired about the call sign but did not get any response and saw aircraft crashing outside airport boundary.

6. Wreckage site activities, including drone photography/videography completed; wreckage moved to a secure area near the airport.

7. Both engines were retrieved and quarantined at a hangar in the airport.

8. Fuel samples taken from bowsers and tanks used to refuel the aircraft were tested at DGCA's Lab and found satisfactory.

9. At this stage of the investigation, there are no recommended actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers.

10. Additional details are being gathered based on the initial leads.

11. The investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from stakeholders.