Air India crash unanswered questions one year on from medical record probe to switch riddle

Air India crash unanswered questions one year on from medical record probe to switch riddle One year on from the disaster that stole 241 lives, grieving families are still waiting for answers. Accident investigators are set to release an update on their findings Families grieving the victims of the Air India plane crash are still desperate for answers, one year on from the disaster that stole hundreds of lives. Accident investigators are preparing to release an anniversary report into the deadly London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed into a crowded neighbourhood just minutes after it took off from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12 last year. The plane exploded into a fireball and killed 241 passengers, as well as 19 people on the ground. Only one man - British-Indian passenger Vishwashkumar Ramesh - survived the horror. Bereaved loved ones and those left injured from the catastrophe are also still waiting anxiously to find out exactly what caused the crash, but reports suggest that India's air investigators are still not in the position to release a record of their complete findings. International regulations stipulate that investigators must aim to release a final accident report one year after an incident. This should include details on the probable cause of the crash and recommendations for avoiding similar disasters going forward. If the authorities are not in the position to provide this, they must release an update on their investigation on each anniversary of the crash. India's civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said last month that the probe was in the "last stage" and that the report would "mostly" be ready by the one-year anniversary date. "However, the investigation is being done by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and we don't interfere in it," he said. "We are giving them all the resources they need." Officials have still not committed to a release date for their final findings. A source told Reuters that it is more likely an "interim" report will be released instead, because "it is a very complex investigation and is taking time". With so many questions left unanswered, no timeline for the final report and lawsuits filed against Air India and Boeing already going through the courts in both the UK and US, pressure is mounting. And away from the gruelling investigation, Air India is facing its own internal crisis with leadership chaos, huge financial losses and the war in the Middle East casting a dark shadow over the company. What was found in the preliminary report? The preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, published exactly 30 days after the incident, found that both fuel cutoff switches were flipped shortly after takeoff, shutting down the jet's engines. The 15-page preliminary report did not assign any blame for the crash and a cause was not concluded. While pilots were not held responsible in the probe, aviation experts have pointed out that flipping the fuel cutoff switch has to be done manually. But unfounded speculation swirling online about a potential pilot suicide sparked anger from one pilot association who insisted the crew acted in line with their training should not be vilified. Those mourning the loss of loved ones killed in the crash also slammed the report, stating they are still yet to find closure as the mystery around the exact cause continues to deepen. Chilling cockpit audio The preliminary report into the disaster revealed the chilling conversation had in the cockpit just moments before the plane crashed and erupted into flames. It sheds light on the moment one of the pilots realised that the fuel cutoff switches had been flipped, leaving the airline with no engine power. Revealing a panicked exchange, the report said: "In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so." "At about 08:09:05 UTC, one of the pilots transmitted "MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY". The ATCO enquired about the call sign. ATCO did not get any response but observed the aircraft crashing outside the airport boundary and activated the emergency response." Fuel switch mystery Aviation experts were quick to react to the report's findings that the fuel cutoff switches were seemingly flipped, with one claiming that the crew were "absolutely" the cause. Captain Mohan Ranganthan, one of India's key aviation experts, suggested this potential cause could have been deliberate. Ranganthan, speaking to NDTV, said: "It has to be done manually, it cannot be done automatically or due to a power failure." These fuel switches have to be operated by pulling each lever upwards to unlock them before being flipped. The switches also have a protective guard bracket to protect them from accidental nudges or bumps. At the time the plane went down, one engine was regaining thrust while the other had relit but had not yet recovered power. Ranganthan added: "The fuel selectors they aren't the sliding type they are always in a slot. They are to pull them out or move them up or down, so the question of them moving inadvertently out of off position doesn't happen. It's a case of deliberate manual selection." He then claimed "nothing else" could have caused that possible explanation, adding: "It had to be deliberately done." Those investigating the crash say that the fuel switchers, which are level-locked, are designed to prevent accidental activation. "It would be almost impossible to pull both switches with a single movement of one hand, and this makes accidental deployment unlikely," an unnamed Canada-based air accidents investigator, told the BBC. Indian pilots slam 'disturbing' claims A group of Indian pilots issued a furious statement in response to the report and the speculation it has sparked online. Defending the actions of the Air India crew, The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) said last year that staff "acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions and the pilots shouldn't be vilified based on conjecture". "To casually suggest pilot suicide without verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession," it fumed. The preliminary investigation did not offer any clarity on how the switches were moved before the crash, but social media users and some experts have been quick to speculate about the role of the pilots. "We are deeply disturbed by speculative narratives emerging in sections of the media and public discourse - particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide," the pilot association said. "Let us be unequivocally clear: there is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage, and invoking such a serious allegation based on incomplete or preliminary information is not only irresponsible - it is deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved." Troubling warning six years before crash It has also been claimed that Air India was warned about wrongly installed fuel switches more than six years before the terrifying disaster. The preliminary report into the crash said in December 2018, the US air regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned airlines that fuel switches had been installed in some Boeing 737s "with the locking feature disengaged". "If the locking feature is disengaged, the switch can be moved between the two positions without lifting the switch during transition, and the switch would be exposed to the potential of inadvertent operation," the FAA warned in a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin. "Inadvertent operation of the switch could result in an unintended consequence, such as an in-flight engine shutdown." It recommended airlines inspect the switches, including "whether the fuel control switch can be moved between the two positions without lifting up the switch". Air India suggested such inspections were not carried out because the FAA's bulletin was "advisory and not mandatory", according to the report. The AAIB report said the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models including part number 4TL837-3D fitted in the 787-8 Dreamliner, the model that crashed in Ahmedabad. Switches are 'safe' After the preliminary report rattled the industry, the US aviation regulator was forced to step in and clarify that the fuel control switches in Boeing planes are safe. In response to Air India having been warned about wrongly installed switches six years ago, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted that its own 2018 advisory "was based on reports that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged" - but it stated that it does not believe this makes the planes unsafe. "Although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, the FAA does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive on any Boeing airplane models, including the Model 787," said the authority, according to a note seen by the BBC. "The FAA will continue to share relevant information with foreign civil aviation authorities as appropriate." Medical records probe Medical records of one of the pilots of the doomed Air India plane are being examined after it has been claimed he suffered from poor mental health. Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was piloting the Boeing 787 Dreamliner when it crashed and aviation expert Captain Ranganathan has suggested that 'several' other pilots had allegedly claimed that he had suffered from poor mental health. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph last year, he claimed: "He had taken time off from flying in the last three to four years. He had taken medical leave for that." The publication said that while Air India declined to comment, an official working with their parent company, Tata Group, said that Captain Sabharwal had not taken any medical leave, with the preliminary report failing to obtain any significant findings. They added that within the last two years, both pilots onboard the flight had passed the Class I medical exam, which makes an evaluation of their psycho-physical capabilities. Air India CEO speaks out In a bid to ease growing concerns, the CEO of Air India Campbell Wilson clarified that the preliminary report into the disaster found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the plane or its engines. An internal memo shows Mr Wilson explaining that the airline's whole 787 fleet had been inspected immediately after the crash and all planes were deemed fit for service, the Independent reports. He also stated that the pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser test and there were no observations regarding their medical status. Mr Wilson added that the investigation was "far from over". What will the final report say? The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) says its investigation "is looking into each and every factor to identify the root cause/ contributory factor(s) leading to the accident". It said its final report would also issue safety recommendations to avoid a repeat of such accidents in the future, although it's not immediately clear how much this point will be covered in the interim report. Independent aviation experts hope the report will shed more light on theories beyond pilot action that have emerged since the crash, including a possible electrical fault. How one man survived the deadly crash The sole survivor of the tragedy says it's a "miracle" he is still alive. Vishwashkumar Ramesh, 40, walked away from the wreckage with minor injuries after miraculously managing to crawl out an opening in the fuselage. In a statement made before the anniversary, Ramesh revealed how he is managing the ongoing trauma surrounding the crash. "I live with the significant psychological scars, the loss of my brother, and the constant unanswered questions around how and why this happened. I know those questions are not just on my mind - they are on the minds of every affected family. More than anything, people need honesty, transparency and answers. Nothing will ever change what happened, but families deserve clarity." He was sat in seat 11A, an emergency exit seat near the front of the plane and close to one of the strongest parts of the aircraft's central body, known as the "wing box". Just 30 seconds into the flight when the plane thrashed into buildings, Ramesh believed he was dead. When he realised he had in fact survived, he spotted an opening in the fuselage. "I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening, and crawled out," he said. It was not clear whether this opening was the door or a rupture in the fuselage. Ramesh's seat had space in front of it rather than seats, which may have given him more room for escape than other passengers. Experts say that his seat position may have also saved him from the fate of the passengers in front of him who may have been crushed together on impact. "My suspicion is that because of the nature of the impact, he was in a strong part of the airplane at the front edge of the wing," Prof John McDermid, Lloyd's Register chair of safety at the University of York, said. "There is not just the fuselage, but the extra structure of the wing to protect from the compression of the fuselage." Speaking four months on from the crash, Ramesh said the incident has left him with constant "flashbacks". The the death of his brother Ajay, who was on the same flight, meant his family has "lost everything". The survivor, who is based in Leicester, said talking about the crash itself is still "very painful", and his advisers have said he still has not spoken about the incident with close family. "I can't explain about my brother," he said. "I lost everything – my happiness. God gave me life but took all my happiness, and from my family. It completely brought down my family… it's very difficult for me and my family." "I get flashbacks all the time, I just stay awake, I sleep maybe three to four hours," he said. “Yes it’s a miracle I survived, but I lost everything, I lost my brother, I'm broken." Ramesh's advisers, Sanjiv Patel and Radd Seiger, have criticised the care he has received since the crash, saying he has been treated like a "name on a spreadsheet". They have appealed to the airline's chief executive Campbell Wilson to meet with them so he can hear about Mr Ramesh's current situation – claiming he has “ignored repeated written requests". Air India said in a statement that an offer of a meeting with senior leaders from the airline's parent company, Tata Group, has been made, and said care for the families of the crash victims, including Ramesh, "remains our absolute priority". It is understood an interim payment has been accepted and transferred to Ramesh. Grieving families desperate for truth Families of the Air India crash victims have slated the 'vague' initial investigation as they demand more clarity on the exact cause of the disaster. A relative of Dhir and Heer Baxi, who were travelling home to London after surprising their grandmother for her birthday when they died in the crash, said he was not satisfied by the initial report's findings. Ishan Baxi, the cousin of the two victims, said: "We're still hoping for a more transparent and honest investigation that doesn't shy away from addressing possible mechanical flaws or lapses in protocol to avoid future potential accidents. "I just hope the final report brings full clarity on what exactly failed and who’s accountable. It shouldn’t hide behind vague terms." And the loved ones grieving a family of three who died in the crash - Akeel Nanabawa, his wife, Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter, Sara Nanabawa - issued a statement. "Moving forwards, we require honesty, transparency and an unwavering commitment to uncovering the full truth," they said. "We seek justice and answers, both of which are essential for us to find any sense of closure. We accept God’s fate, but knowing what happened will help ease our hearts and allow us to begin the long journey of healing. "Above all, we hope that by pursuing the truth, no other family will ever have to endure the shock, uncertainty, and profound sorrow that we have lived through this past month."