United News of Bangladesh

A preliminary investigation into last month’s Air India crash has revealed that the fuel control switches for both engines were moved from the “run” to the “cutoff” position moments before the aircraft went down, cutting off fuel and leading to engine failure. According to the report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, this change in switch position — which occurred shortly after takeoff — caused the engines to lose thrust. The report also suggested that the pilots were confused by the switch change. Death toll in India plane crash rises to 270 as more bodies recovered The crash involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner on June 12 in Ahmedabad, killing at least 260 people, including 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived, making it one of the deadliest air disasters in India’s history. The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers — including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian — along with 12 crew members. Investigators reported that the flight lasted only about 30 seconds. After reaching its peak recorded speed, the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were flipped from “run” to “cutoff” within a second of each other. The report does not clarify how or why this occurred mid-flight. These switches control the flow of fuel to the engines, and moving them to the “cutoff” position effectively starves the engines of fuel. Although they were returned to the “run” position, the engines could not recover power in time to prevent the crash. A distress call of “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” was recorded from one of the pilots, the report stated. Cockpit voice recordings also captured a moment of confusion, with one pilot asking the other why the fuel had been cut off — to which the other pilot replied that he had not done it. The report, still in its preliminary stage, does not suggest any corrective actions for Boeing. Air India has stated it is cooperating fully with investigators. “We are working with all relevant authorities and will continue to support the ongoing investigation,” the airline said in a statement. Black boxes, which include cockpit voice and flight data recordings, were recovered shortly after the crash and analyzed in India. In response to the incident, Indian aviation authorities have mandated additional inspections of Air India’s fleet of 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to ensure safety going forward.

Fuel collection, marketing and transportation have been suspended in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions since Wednesday morning due to a wildcat strike enforced by Bangladesh Petroleum, Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners’ Association. Rajshahi and Rangpur divisional chapters of the association went on strike together in protest against an eviction drive by Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Boguar’s Santahar on Tuesday. Two petrol pumps were demolished during the drive. In a statement, signed by Rajshahi chapter president Md Mizanur Rahman and general secretary Md Abdul Jalil, the decision to enforce the strike was made public on Tuesday shortly after the eviction drive. Commuters suffer as Bhola bus workers go on strike Though it was scheduled to enforce the strike from 8am on Wednesday, most of refilling stations in Natore remained closed since 6am, crippling vehicle movement. The statement reads the RHD conducted the eviction drive without any prior notice to the fuel pump authorities which was unprecedented. Urging the petrol pump owners to observe the strike, the association sensed conspiracy against the government in the drive, according to the statement.

Fuel collection from three depots in Khulna and its supply to 16 districts under Khulna division resumed on Wednesday morning following the withdrawal of the indefinite work abstention enforced by Khulna divisional tank-lorry workers’ union. The union’s treasurer Mizanur Rahman said they called off the strike early Wednesday after the district administration assured of meeting their demands. workers started lifting fuel and supplying it to the districts at 8am, he said.Earlier on Sunday afternoon, the workers went on an indefinite work abstention protesting the arrest of union general secretary Ali Azam in a sabotage case and demanding his release. Tank Lorry workers struck work in Khulna to protest union leader's arrest As a result, the fuel lifting from the depots and supply to refueling stations came to a halt across the division. Detectives arrested leader Azam on Sunday and handed over to Khalishpur police station. He is an identified accused in the sabotage case filed on August 21 last. Protesting the arrest, the workers refrained from loading fuel from Padma, Meghna and Jauma depots.