₦airaland Forum

tunde1200:
If one go out it can also make the aircraft to crash due to weight and balancing of the aircraft.

It can't , most Aircraft will complete V2 with one engine , it just that they will immediately do a go around a land .

SouthSouth1914:
How did the first officer did it? Credible info from black box recovered states otherwise. The plane has barely gained altitude so not possible if he had jeopardized any safety protocols etc.

The First Flight Officer is the one in best position to answer that... The fuel cut off switch is not automatic....

davodyguy:
Why were the fuel switches turned off?

At approximately three seconds after takeoff, both engine fuel control switches unexpectedly moved from RUN → CUTOFF, instantly cutting off fuel to the engines .

Cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot asking the other “Why did you cut off the fuel?” with the reply, **“I didn’t”** .

Since the switches are mechanically locked and require lifting before flipping, accidental activation is highly unlikely .


So far, investigators have not concluded whether the actions were:

1. A deliberate/data flight crew action,


2. A mechanical/locking failure,


3. Or a software anomaly.




---

❓ Why have a fuel cutoff switch in the first place?

Fuel cutoff switches serve vital safety roles:

They allow ground crews or flight crews to stop fuel flow during normal engine shutdown after landing.

They are also used to shut down an engine in-flight during an emergency (e.g., a fire or serious malfunction) .


Engines by design normally run directly on continuous fuel flow unless intentionally interrupted for safe operations. Hence, the switch is a critical safety control, not a normal operating tool during takeoff.


---

🛠️ Automatic or manual? How does the switch work?

These switches are manual, not automatic.

They have mechanical locks and guards to prevent inadvertent activation and must be lifted before being moved .


This means the switches should require conscious, deliberate action to move. Investigators stress that **“you can’t bump them and they move”** .


---

🚀 Summary

Question Answer
**Why were they turned off?** Investigators haven’t concluded—could be intentional, inadvertent, or mechanical/software failure.

**Why have the switch?** To safely shut down engines on ground or in emergency; not for normal takeoff operations.

**Automatic or manual?** Fully manual—mechanical locks prevent accidental activation.



---

🔍 What’s next?

The final investigation report, expected in months, may reveal whether the switch movement was deliberate or due to a fault.

Authorities are also examining a 2018 FAA safety bulletin about similar switches and whether Air India inspected their aircraft accordingly .

If it was only a mechanically operated device, it would have been hard to conclude but the moment i saw software then that was all i needed to see to know the most likely culprit.. So it's definitely either a software glitch or hack

flexyrule:
Planes that fly internationally usually have their engines on idle for almost an hour before takeoff.

Even the generator won't go past 10 minutes.

Exactly, even the power and proportional fuel consumption needed to lift the aircraft off the ground would have been none existent enabling for a quick abortion of takeoff so this isnt a case of utilizing the reserve fuel until it got exhausted midway will trying to gain altitude after take off

SouthSouth1914:
Maybe they were never put ON from
The aircraft’s last flight! This like turning off your fuel switch on generators. But it will start in the next time you put it ON. But will go off after some some seconds because the fuel switch wasn’t turned ON for flow of fuel.

The maintenance crew of that aircraft should be investigated, to get to know the truth. There might be an important person or two in that aircraft who people of interests to other people, there is a conspiracy!

Just my personal opinion.

I don't think so. Most equipment that are automated have limit switches and permissives that must be met before the equipment can be safely run. I don't expect lest of an expensive equipment like an airplane.

SouthSouth1914:
Maybe they were never put ON from
The aircraft’s last flight! This like turning off your fuel switch on generators. But it will start in the next time you put it ON. But will go off after some some seconds because the fuel switch wasn’t turned ON for flow of fuel.

The maintenance crew of that aircraft should be investigated, to get to know the truth. There might be an important person or two in that aircraft who people of interests to other people, there is a conspiracy!

Just my personal opinion.

The thing is, an aircraft wouldn't start at all if the fuel switch is cut off. It's a safety mechanism. It's just like a modern car. If the brakes aren't on or the gear isn't in neutral it wouldn't start at all, let alone move. And before an aircraft even lifts off, the engine is usually turned on and warmed for several minutes at times even up to an hour. There are indications that the airplane had an intrinsic problem rather than human error

SouthSouth1914:
Even when put OFF. There will still be usable fuel in the line. Which explains why the plane took off and didn’t gain altitude because of the Switch being OFF!!! Read, read, read….

Oga, no pilot will fly a plane without confirming if the fuel switch is on or not. It's one of the routine checks before a takeoff.

SouthSouth1914:
Maybe they were never put ON from
The aircraft’s last flight! This like turning off your fuel switch on generators. But it will start in the next time you put it ON. But will go off after some some seconds because the fuel switch wasn’t turned ON for flow of fuel.

The maintenance crew of that aircraft should be investigated, to get to know the truth. There might be an important person or two in that aircraft who people of interests to other people, there is a conspiracy!

Just my personal opinion.

If they weren't turned on the plane won't fly or move. Once the plane engine is started there will be a warning light and sound, the pilots should have seen that when do final checkup before flight.

It's either it was international or error after take off

I agree with you partially.
Even if sea/ship safety has improved, many will still die before help can reach dem.
Many things could kill dem inside the water during ship-wreck. Things like waves, current, and the ones who cannot swim.

fashrola:
Sea the safest…. If 241 passengers were on a ship, at least 220 will survive… no cap!! Except a grenade or bomb is thrown at it like what is happening lately at Rea sea, where the Houthi rebels are sinking merchant ships with drones (Even at that, few crew were rescued)

This ain’t titanic age… Ship safety has improved over the years and keeps improving every year with new regulations and conventions to keep life at sea safe.

Love800:
I agree with you partially.
Even if sea/ship safety has improved, many will still die before help can reach dem.
Many things could kill dem inside the water during ship-wreck. Things like waves, current, and the ones who cannot swim.

That’s why we have lifeboat and other LFA (Life saving appliances) onboard.

The liferaft will keep you safe, Lifeboat….. Lifejacket and immersion suit to protect you from cold.

Ship safety has improved over the years and keeps improving everyday.

Just press of a button on your GMDSS will send a mayday alert to all the nearest vessel around that location and search and rescue center…

Before abandoning a ship, a crew must take EPIRB with him to the liferaft or lifeboat which sends your location to any vessel or helicopter coming for search and rescue

SalamRushdie:
It can't , most Aircraft will complete V2 with one engine , it just that they will immediately do a go around a land .

With one engine it's possible if the weight is not too much and the cockpit crew know the emergency preparedness well without panic.
Am an aircraft maintenance engr I can't argue much on that with you but if you can convince me will appreciate that.

With the brain racking and thoughtful investigations going on in this thread, I’m proud to be a member of Nairaland!

Seriously every single one of you guys made sense but my thought on this issue is the fact that the lifestyle of Asians, especially Indians concerning safety in all ramifications cannot be banked on. I can only gamble on that of the Chinese but they naturally don’t follow rules!

Somebody might have carelessly played with the fuel switch of both engine. Most possibly one of the pilots. He might be facing a psychological issue that prompted it.

This incident should serves as a lesson for all and sundry in the aviation sector to go routinely go for psychological evaluation at least four times a year because the lives of people and their families are at stake!

cenaman:
https://news.sky.com/story/fuel-to-engines-of-air-india-plane-cut-off-moments-before-crash-preliminary-report-finds-13395620

Your analogy is correct, except this statement by you….from one of the pilots to the other:

“did you cut off the fuel?”

The pilot actually statement/question was..

“Why did you cut of the fuel”

The Pilot was directly accusing the actual Pilot of deliberately cutting off the fuel switch.

So we know it was a deliberate, what is left for the investigators is to determine if it was intentional or a mistake.

achorladey:
That account for the shocking and sudden lose of power by that jet.

Wow! Genius. 👏

davodyguy:
Good it's your opinion, but you're wrong here.

The switch is strong and requires some strong touch, that must come from pilots or first officer. This has nothing to do with maintenance

Not that I am agreeing with the person you quoted,but do you know that the maintenance crew do have access to the cockpit and they also start the engines too for maintenance purposes?
So why do you rule out the possibility of them accessing the fuel switch?
Anything is possible,but let's wait until the investigation is concluded.

cucumbar:
Oga, no be generator dem Dey try to start here nauuu.

But engine nah engine nah or abi no be so?
So de guy dey try use de engine wey him sabi (generator) compare with the plane own nah.
Them dey talk of fuel supply to engine so him no dey totally wrong in him analogy.
But your reply funny me aswear!
I laff like say I win lottery

OAKSFIVEFARMS:
See how this guy use him tiger generator solve worldwide mystery from Isalu in Ogun State.

O boi,dis ur comment and the other guy own I quoted previously don make me laff roll for ground.
But engine nah engine nah?
Weda nah tiger generator engine or aircraft Boeing engine,all of dem nid fuel supply to function.
So leave the guy alone with him tiger generator abeg.
Him try,him analogy no dey too far from the reality in dis case

Christlike01:
As much as I would like to agree with your line of reasoning, I find it almost impossible to believe that the Captain and First Officer of the ill-fated Indian flight simply forgot to switch on the fuel pump. This is because there is a mandatory pre-flight procedure that must be performed before takeoff—commonly referred to as the pre-flight checklist or before-start checklist.

Pilots rely on these standardized checklists to ensure that all necessary procedures are completed and that systems are properly configured before flight, as well as during all other critical phases such as takeoff, cruise, descent, and landing. While the specific checklist items may vary slightly depending on the aircraft type, the overall process is an essential and rigorously followed safety protocol.

Given this, I strongly believe that the flight captain would have reviewed and confirmed all necessary systems with the First Officer before departure. A typical exchange in the cockpit might go as follows:

Captain: Battery switches?
First Officer: ON

Captain: Fuel pumps?
First Officer: ON

Captain: APU?
First Officer: ON and available

Based on this standard operating procedure, it seems highly unlikely that they would have forgotten to switch on the fuel supply system.

Then in that case too,it wouldn't have been possible for one of the pilots to pull out the switch board and switch it off without the 2nd pilot seeing it or knowing about it.
They are in same cockpit and doing the same checks just as you have said.
So how come one of the pilots is asking the other one why he switched off the fuel supply?
Was he not in the same cockpit with him before and during the takeoff?

Pacesetter123:
Then in that case too,it wouldn't have been possible for one of the pilots to pull out the switch board and switch it off without the 2nd pilot seeing it or knowing about it.
They are in same cockpit and doing the same checks just as you have said.
So how come one of the pilots is asking the other one why he switched off the fuel supply?
Was he not in the same cockpit with him before and during the takeoff?

There was then confusion in the cockpit. In the voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he "cut off". The other pilot responds that he did not do so.

Whoever asked that question between the two pilots knew the fuel supply system was ON before they took off! Like I said initially, the pre-flight checklist is a mandatory procedure — the flight captain wouldn’t have taken the aircraft into the air without confirming that everything was in order. I'm not outright dismissing your submission, but I'm only saying it’s unlikely that the pilots would have neglected such an important procedure as the pre-flight checklist.

Pacesetter123:

O boi,dis ur comment and the other guy own I quoted previously don make me laff roll for ground.
But engine nah engine nah?
Weda nah tiger generator engine or aircraft Boeing engine,all of dem nid fuel supply to function.
So leave the guy alone with him tiger generator abeg.
Him try,him analogy no dey too far from the reality in dis case

Lol, funny enough I was just agreeing with him. But as e reply me, Na vex e take come back.

Thanks so much.

Nice write-up from you.

Sorry for my late response. Na my work hold me down since.

I really appreciate.

Have a wonderful day ahead.

fashrola:
That’s why we have lifeboat and other LFA (Life saving appliances) onboard.

The liferaft will keep you safe, Lifeboat….. Lifejacket and immersion suit to protect you from cold.

Ship safety has improved over the years and keeps improving everyday.

Just press of a button on your GMDSS will send a mayday alert to all the nearest vessel around that location and search and rescue center…

Before abandoning a ship, a crew must take EPIRB with him to the liferaft or lifeboat which sends your location to any vessel or helicopter coming for search and rescue