The investigation into the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has narrowed the focus on the movement of engine fuel controls, after analyzing black box data and final simulation of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Three sources close to the report said the preliminary report is expected to be released on July 11. According to one of the sources, there was no immediate evidence of a technical error and no recommendations were sent to airlines about adjusting the operations of the Boeing 787.
The plane crashed en route to London, losing altitude after reaching about 198m and crashed just a few seconds after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people in the cabin.
The investigation focuses on fuel control switches - an important part that ensures the supply of energy to the two engines of the plane. However, it is unclear which specific actions related to the switch are being considered.
Some sources said that the black box data cannot rule out or confirm the possibility of incorrect, unintentional or intentional actions before or after the plane lost its propulsion.
American aviation safety expert John Cox said that pilots cannot accidentally impact a fuel switch and if a switch is turned off, the consequences will happen almost immediately, with the engine losing its immediate thrust.
In the aviation industry, most accidents often come from many combined factors. Last month, the press reported that the investigation was partly focused on engine thrust.
While the report could be released early this week, three sources warn that the plan could change and it is unclear how much detail will be included in the document.
The investigation was criticized for its lack of transparency, taking two weeks to download black box data and holding just one press conference without answering questions.
India initially refused the participation of an expert from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), but reversed the decision and granted status as an expert to the ICAO representative.
The incident poses a serious challenge to the ambition to reorganize the image of Air India of Tata Group, the airline's acquisition since 2022. The Indian government is expecting the aviation industry to become a pillar of development, with the goal of turning the country into a global aviation hub like Dubai.
An Indian parliamentary committee will also review the civil aviation safety situation and summon officials and industry representatives to the upcoming questioning session.
