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AirAsia QZ8501 Crash: Final Report Points to Faulty Component, Crew Action

AirAsia Airbus A320-200 (PK-AXC), the aircraft involved in the crash, in April 2014. Oka Sudiatmika (Wikimedia Commons)
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Key Takeaways:

  • The AirAsia A320 crash was primarily caused by a recurring rudder control system malfunction, rather than bad weather as initially speculated.
  • A cracked solder joint on an electric card led to the rudder system malfunctions, prompting the crew to inappropriately remove a circuit breaker, which disengaged the autopilot and altered the flight control logic.
  • Subsequent crew confusion, delayed manual stick movement, and miscommunication during recovery attempts resulted in the aircraft rapidly ascending at a steep angle, ultimately leading to a prolonged stall and impact with the Java Sea.
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Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee released a final report, detailing the events that led to the AirAsia Airbus A320 crash last December that killed all 162 people on board.

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