In this special edition of The Indian AvGeek, we have three of India’s leading aviation experts—Sanjay Lazar, Devesh Agarwal, and Captain Kishore Chinta—to dissect the preliminary AI171 crash report. Through a blend of technical insight and human-factors analysis, they chart the accident timeline, examine cockpit ergonomics, and question the selective data release by AAIB.

From the fuel control switch movements in the EAFR data to the haunting cockpit voice exchanges about who “cut off” the engines, our panel explores:

- Initial reactions to the preliminary report

- How EAFR switch positions frame the crash sequence

- Pilot decision-making and stress at low altitude

- Possible motives behind withholding CVR and DFDR transcripts

- Technical and aerodynamic reasons for asymmetric engine relight

- Implications for cockpit switch-locking designs and walk-around call-outs

- Relevance of FAA’s 2018 SAIB NM-18-33 on fuel-switch locks

- The curious omission of GE’s GEnx-1B SB 73-0097 R01 from the report

- Distinctions between mandatory and advisory safety bulletins

- Priorities after RAT deployment: MAYDAY, systems configuration, or flying the profile

- Intuitiveness of the 787’s fuel-control layout and best practices to prevent inadvertent cuts

- Mechanics of international cooperation among AAIB, NTSB, DGCA, and others

- Potential global ripple effects on Boeing 787 operations

- Critical evidence and analysis are still needed for a conclusive investigation

- How the scope and timeline of the final report will differ from preliminary findings

Captain Kishore Chinta - ⁠@Capt_CK⁠

Sanjay Lazar - ⁠@SJLazars⁠

Devesh Agarwal - ⁠@BLRaviation⁠

Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠