Investigators probing the deadly Air India crash that killed 260 people last month are focusing on the actions of the cockpit crew, with early assessments indicating no apparent fault with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Preliminary findings suggest switches that control fuel flow to the aircraft’s twin engines were turned off shortly after takeoff.
This caused the jet to lose thrust, according to sources familiar with the US side of the investigation.
In aviation, the switches are used to start or shut down the engines and are typically left on during flight.
It remains unclear why they were turned off, and investigators have been left wondering whether it was deliberate, accidental or corrected too late.
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, one potential sign that the switches were off was the deployment of the plane’s emergency power system, a ram air turbine or RAT.
Although a preliminary report has been submitted to Indian authorities, it has been reported that there is no obligation to release it to the public.
Air India says Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was flying the plane, had more than 10,000 hours of experience on wide-body jets, while co-pilot Clive Kunder had logged over 3,400 hours.
Air India, the nation’s oldest airline, has been trying to revitalise its operations after several years under government control.
The crash marked the first fatal incident involving a Dreamliner and was a major setback for Boeing, which is facing ongoing scrutiny over its aircraft safety standards.
The US National Transportation Safety Board is assisting with the Indian-led investigation, while the Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing and GE Aerospace are providing technical support.
Reports indicate that there have been tensions building between American and Indian officials.
One of the biggest points of contention is the delay in accessing and analysing the plane’s black boxes.
The Americans are not pleased with the slow pace at which data is being extracted from the cockpit voice and data recorders.
The US team at one point even considered pulling out of the probe before eventually deciding to carry on.
The US investigators have since returned home.
The Dreamliner, which was first delivered to Air India in 2012, has been used for many international routes.
Although officials have initially focused on the fuel control switches, they have cautioned that nothing has been ruled out yet.
Harrowing footage of the crash shows how the plane, in the air, went down in a busy area and also killing 19 people on the ground in Ahmedabad on June 12.
Brit Vishwashkumar Ramesh was the only passenger who survived the crash.
