flight safety detectives episode 280 - Who Turned Off the Engines?!?

The preliminary report on the June 12, 2025, fatal crash of an Air India 787 is most notable for what is unstated, vague, and even misleading. The detectives start with the omission of who turned off the engines just after takeoff. Their list of unanswered questions grows from there.

This crash appears to not be an accident, but rather an intentional act by at least one member of the flight crew. The engines were shut down shortly after takeoff. Although at least one pilot took actions to restart both engines, neither engine could generate thrust before the aircraft crashed less than a mile from the airport.

The report has telltale signs that those writing the report had motives other than to provide factual information about the event and the investigation. Errors and vaguely worded statements in the report make it appear that someone other than an aviation safety professional wrote or approved the report.

Just a few of the issues Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis highlight include:

• The report did not specify which pilot shut down the engines just after takeoff, even though the voice and data recorders likely had enough information to determine that.
• The report does not say whether other people were in the cockpit other than the two pilots.
• No reason is given as to why Air India was excluded from the investigation.
• An aviation psychologist is listed as one of the subject matter experts on the investigation team, implying that a psychological or even psychiatric issue was a factor in this crash.

In summary, the report points to an event that was not an accident, but a deliberate action.

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