Mike Andrews (Source: X/ANI)
Mike Andrews, lead lawyer representing families of victims of the Ahmedabad Air India crash said on Monday that his team has signed up 130 families and is continuing investigations on their behalf.Speaking to news agency ANI, Andrews said survivor accounts indicated the aircraft’s lights flickered off and on before turning green, suggesting a possible switch from the primary electrical system to emergency power. Experts are also examining whether electrical faults and water leaks on the plane may have contributed to the crash.“We are focusing on the underlying technical issues and working with experts to analyse all available evidence,” Andrews said, adding that the team is also looking at the unique impact of the tragedy on each family. He further noted that investigators from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and other agencies may travel to Washington this week to meet the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), with his team closely monitoring the purpose of the visit.The Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12. The aircraft was carrying 242 people, including passengers and crew members and only one person survived the crash. Andrews’ statements come as India prepares to dispatch a team of accident investigators to Washington next week to review the ongoing probe into the June Air India crash that claimed 241 lives. The delegation will examine data collected by the NTSB and present their own analysis from the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, Bloomberg reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.The AAIB, heading the probe from the Indian side, will participate in the review meeting at NTSB headquarters. Representatives from Boeing and other organisations involved in the investigation are also expected to attend. The NTSB has said it has no information to share at this stage, while Boeing directed queries to the AAIB. Attempts to reach the AAIB and India’s aviation ministry over the weekend were unsuccessful.Preliminary findings indicated that the aircraft’s fuel-control switches were turned off shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, causing engine power loss. Although the switches were turned back on about 10 seconds later, the action was insufficient to prevent the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from crashing.Cockpit voice recordings reportedly captured the co-pilot, who was operating the aircraft at take-off, asking the captain why the switches were turned off, while the captain denied doing so. The AAIB has urged the public not to draw conclusions until the final report is issued.