As investigations into the catastrophic crash of Air India flight AI 171 continue, pilots from the national carrier have conducted an independent flight simulation of the aircraft’s final moments, with findings indicating a likely technical malfunction, possibly dual engine failure.
The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college campus in Ahmedabad shortly after take-off on 27 June, claiming the lives of 275 people, including 34 on the ground. Only one passenger on board survived, making it one of the deadliest air disasters in India's aviation history.
According to reports, quoting sources familiar with the matter, the Air India pilots simulated the aircraft’s last recorded configurations, landing gear deployed and wing flaps retracted, in a flight simulator. The exercise concluded that such a configuration alone would not result in a crash of this magnitude.
Air India has officially declined to comment on the findings. “These are speculations, and we will not be able to give any comments at this time,” the airline stated.
Also read: AI crash preliminary report due next week, may reveal causes
Contrary to earlier reports, wreckage images revealed that the aircraft’s flaps were, in fact, extended at the time of impact. Flaps are crucial for generating lift during low-speed phases like take-off and landing. This revelation undercuts earlier speculation that the flaps were retracted, compromising lift.
One of the more worrying findings from the simulator test was the possible involvement of a serious power system malfunction. An independent analysis by Air India’s flight crew of the wreckage footage showed the landing gear partially tilted forward, suggesting the aircraft may have initiated a gear retraction sequence. However, the landing-gear doors were reportedly unopened, a likely sign of a hydraulic failure or loss of power to the system.
Captain Steve Scheibner, a former US Navy pilot and aviation expert, offered a separate analysis pointing to a possible dual engine failure. In an interview, he said, “The deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) shortly after takeoff typically indicates a dual engine failure.” The RAT is an emergency power source that activates when both engines fail or the main hydraulic systems lose power.
These findings, while yet to be confirmed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), strengthen the theory that the crash was not due to pilot error or incorrect flap configuration, but rather a grave technical fault.
The AAIB is presently analysing data retrieved from the aircraft’s black boxes at its Delhi laboratory. The data is expected to reconstruct the final moments of the flight and establish a definitive sequence of events, including whether both engines suffered simultaneous failure.
While the official inquiry remains ongoing, the independent simulation by Air India’s flight crew and expert input have opened up critical avenues for the investigation, pointing to possible mechanical or systemic failures rather than human error.
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