What happened to the fuel-control switches on doomed Air India flight 171?
Al Jazeera3 days
The preliminary evidence points to human error as the likely cause of this tragedy. Black box recordings clearly show one pilot questioning why fuel was cut off, and flight dynamics make it nearly impossible for the flying pilot to have manipulated those switches during the critical takeoff phase. The captain, as the monitoring pilot, had both the access and opportunity to move the fuel control switches.
Rushing to blame the pilots is premature and irresponsible when the investigation is far from complete. Similar incidents have occurred due to software malfunctions that automatically moved fuel switches without pilot intervention, and the preliminary report provides no definitive evidence of deliberate action. The focus should remain on thorough investigation rather than speculation that damages the reputation of deceased crew members.