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Preliminary report on Air India crash submitted by Indian investigators

Preliminary report on Air India crash submitted by Indian investigators
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Air India | Official Website

It has been almost a month since Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has now submitted its preliminary report on the incident to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, according to sources cited by ANI.

The report includes the bureau's initial findings based on evidence collected at the crash site and data from flight recorders. Investigators were expected to submit this report by July 11, following international guidelines that require a summary within 30 days of a fatal accident. Officials have not yet commented on any conclusions.

On June 12, Flight 171 was headed to London with 242 people onboard when it crashed into a hostel complex near the airport shortly after takeoff. The captain reportedly issued a Mayday call before impact but could not gain altitude. Nearly all onboard perished, except for one passenger seated in 11A. The two black boxes were recovered soon after the crash, and data was successfully downloaded at the AAIB Lab.

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Speculations about the cause of the crash have included engine failure, electrical malfunction, pilot error, and fuel contamination. The preliminary report is anticipated to offer insights into what might have caused the aircraft's rapid descent.

Investigations continue as authorities explore all potential causes behind the accident. Training pilots from Air India's Boeing 787 fleet conducted simulator sessions in Mumbai to replicate scenarios that might have led to such an event but were unable to recreate conditions matching those of Flight 171. They used precise trim sheet data from the flight for analysis.

The final investigation report is expected around mid-September, approximately three months after the incident. The investigation is being led by India's AAIB with involvement from various organizations including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and international bodies like the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Reports indicate some tension between Indian authorities and their counterparts in France, the UK, and the US over handling procedures post-crash. Some Western authorities raised concerns about India's decision to analyze black boxes domestically instead of sending them abroad as done previously due to limited local capacity.

India's decision not to involve United Nations specialists in this investigation has also attracted criticism and may impact families seeking transparency regarding what happened during this tragic event.

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