By Kolawole Ojebisi
A preliminary report has attributed the cause of the air disaster involving Air India Boeing 787 which resulted in the deaths of 270 people to a faulty locking mechanism in the pilot’s seat.
According to the report, investigation found that while the aeroplane was about taking off, the captain’s seat slid backwards, causing the pilot’s hands to unintentionally pull the throttle levers to idle.
The report added that the pilot’s mistake led to a sudden loss of engine thrust just seconds after takeoff, causing the plane to stall and crash into a nearby building housing medical workers.
It further stated that a last-ditch effort by the co-pilot to regain control was thwarted by the captain’s reclined position.
Key cockpit data showed:
+12 seconds: Seat slides back
+15 seconds: Co-pilot shouts, “We’re losing thrust!”
+26 seconds: Aircraft stalls at 214 feet
Also cited by investigators as the cause of the fatal crash was the absence of key safety features in the 787’s throttle system, such as reverse-motion protection and weight-based lockouts.
To prevent future recurrence, the FAA and EASA have ordered urgent inspections of all Boeing 787 pilot seats.
Also as parts of precautionary measures, Air India has grounded 12 planes with similar maintenance records as Boeing promised a seat redesign by 2026.
Recall that weeks ago, the whole of India was thrown into mourning when an Air India Boeing 787 crashed minutes after taking off, killing passengers and crew.
The plane crashed into a building housing medical students and killed available residents at the moment of the accident.
A British national is the sole survivor. According to the investigators, the final report will be released in the next couple of weeks, with authorities promising stricter inspections and global aviation safety reforms.
