R2R NEWSPAPER NOTES

Fresh SSB batches started 19th July. Referred articles were published in The Hindu.

Preliminary Crash Report Revealed: Insights into the Air India Flight AI 771 Incident

• Incident Summary:
  • Air India Flight AI 771 experienced engine issues upon landing in Ahmedabad on June 12.
  • The preliminary report of the incident was released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on July 15, a month after the accident.
  • The report and related details are part of a special media release due to technical aspects and "human intervention" relevant to crash investigations.
• AAIB's Role and Findings:
  • The AAIB (Aircraft Accidents and Incidents) Rules 2017 govern the obligations of the Government of India towards the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
  • The AAIB has successfully handled 92 incidents and 111 serious incidents since its inception in 2012.
  • The AAIB report indicated that flight control switches for the engine had been found in the "climb" position during the initial climb.
  • Engine 1 (cutoff to thrust reverse) and Engine 2 (full authority digital engine control) were manually switched off by the pilot.
  • The report stated that the aircraft's engine (GE's GEnX-1B70/P2) and the manufacturer "has drawn criticism from across bodies for ignoring systemic vulnerabilities."
• Pilot Actions and Errors:
  • The report explicitly states that the pilot "switched the engine 1 fuel cut-off switch then transferred from Cutoff to Run about 10 seconds after the cutoff."
  • The pilot then subsequently switched off the Full Authority Digital Engine Control for engine 2.
  • The pilot's actions are described as problematic, leading to an "abnormal state."
• Safety Checks and Regulatory Oversight:
  • DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) carries out additional safety inspections on Boeing 737 and 787 fleets, and reviews systems and automation.
  • Prof. Guy Gratton from Cranfield University stated that "the Indian system is deeply embedded in these simply mechanical or electrical, hydraulic, and propulsion systems."
  • The DGCA had issued a directive in July 2025 to check the backing mechanism in the flight control levers on Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft.
  • The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also issued a directive in 2018 on the potential for mismanagement of the flight control "rocking feature" on several Boeing aircraft families.
• Wider Industry Concerns:
  • The "Boing systems and transmit real-time diagnostics" indicate that Boeing is data-linked and has highly networked aircraft.
  • Problems in flight systems are typically software-related, and even among pilots, the software for the mechanical switches functions abnormally.
  • The report highlights concerns from experts about "systemic vulnerabilities" in aircraft design and manufacturing.
  • There is a lack of "true, independent validation" of these systems.
  • The Indian Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) had criticized the premature release of preliminary reports, stating it puts "undue pressure for defamation, mental anguish, and reputational harm."
• Disagreement and Future Actions:
  • Singapore's media, quoting a preliminary report, stated that "data is always recorded but not always for onboard video," which could lead to a lack of complete information.
  • The final line is that there needs to be a "fair and transparent investigation with irrefutable findings."

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