WSJ: Preliminary findings suggest pilot error in Air India Boeing 787 crash

Preliminary investigation into the June 12 crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner indicates that pilot error involving the aircraft’s fuel control system may have been a key factor in the accident, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing unnamed sources.

The report reveals that the fuel control system supplying both engines was switched off shortly after takeoff, leading to a sudden loss of thrust. This system is manually controlled by the pilots through fuel control switches used to start or shut down the aircraft’s engines.

Sources say the switches were found in the “off” position, but the reasons behind this remain unclear. It is not yet known whether the switches were turned off accidentally or intentionally. Investigators are also examining whether the flight crew attempted to restart the engines following the loss of power.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operated by Air India, experienced a critical engine failure shortly after departing, resulting in the crash. Authorities continue to probe the exact sequence of events leading up to the tragedy.

By Vugar Khalilov