Air India cockpit recording suggests captain cut fuel to engines before crash, source says
A cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the Air India flight that crashed last month supports the view that the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines, said a source briefed on U.S. officials' early assessment of evidence, Reuters reported.
The first officer was at the controls of the Boeing 787 and asked the captain why he moved the fuel switches into a position that starved the engines of fuel and requested that he restore the fuel flow, the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity because the matter remains under investigation.
The U.S. assessment is not contained in a formal document, said the source, who emphasized the cause of the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad, India, that killed 260 people remains under investigation.
There was no cockpit video recording definitively showing which pilot flipped the switches, but the weight of evidence from the conversation points to the captain, according to the early assessment, according to Reuters.
Four dead, over 1,300 evacuated as heavy rains lash South Korea
Four people have died and more than 1,300 have been evacuated as torrential rains hit South Korea, prompting the government to issue its highest disaster alert, BBC reported.
Among the victims were two elderly men, a man killed by a collapsed wall, and one who suffered cardiac arrest. Seosan, the worst-hit city, saw over 400mm of rain in just 12 hours — a level described as a once-in-a-century event.
Authorities have warned of ongoing risks from landslides and flash floods and urged people to avoid riverbanks and underground spaces. While rains are expected to ease, forecasters warn of possible heatwaves next week, according to BBC.
British spies and SAS named in Afghan data breach
The identities of over 100 British officials, including MI6 and special forces members, were exposed in a major Ministry of Defence data breach, alongside sensitive details of nearly 19,000 Afghans who worked with the UK during the Afghanistan war, according to BBC.
The breach, caused by an email error in February 2022, went unnoticed until August 2023 when part of the data appeared online. Some affected Afghans now fear Taliban reprisals, though the group denies targeting them.
In response, the government launched a covert resettlement scheme, relocating 4,500 Afghans, with 2,400 more expected. Defence Secretary John Healey called it a “serious departmental error,” while the Ministry of Defence stressed it takes personnel security seriously but declined to comment on special forces, BBC reported.
Lightning Strikes Kill 19 in Bihar
At least 19 people were killed by lightning in Bihar over the past 24 hours amid heavy rain and thunderstorms, officials said Thursday. Most victims were struck while working outdoors or sheltering under trees, Hindustan Times reported.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed condolences and announced compensation for the families. He urged the public to stay alert and follow weather advisories.
The India Meteorological Department has warned of continued lightning and rain in several districts as the monsoon remains active.
