The investigation into the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 is now in full swing as officials begin to piece together the events leading up to the disaster. The Boeing 787, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, was airborne for less than 40 seconds before it descended into a residential area, causing devastation and raising urgent inquiries into the potential causes.
Pilots Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and Co-pilot Clive Kundar had taken off with 242 passengers and nearly 100 tons of fuel at 13:39 local time when a mayday alert was issued from the cockpit. The flight was destined for London Gatwick but quickly deteriorated, resulting in a catastrophic failure engulfed in flames.
Investigators are pursuing multiple theories surrounding the crash, including possible engine failures due to bird strikes or fuel contamination, improper flap adjustments, or even maintenance errors. Experts denote this accident as an unprecedented "controlled flight into terrain," as it occurred mere moments after leaving the ground.
A thorough examination of the wreckage, including the damaged engines, is considered crucial. According to aviation expert Peter Goelz, the state of the engines at the moment of impact will provide vital clues—whether they were generating power or not will shape the focus of the investigation considerably.
The so-called "black boxes," comprising the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs), have reportedly been retrieved and are pivotal in confirming events leading up to the crash. These devices log extensive data, such as thrust settings, engine performance, and cockpit conversations. Investigators will scrutinize this data to create a comprehensive report.
As the investigation unfolds, it will involve a close inspection of the aircraft's maintenance records and operational history. The Indian civil aviation ministry has already confirmed that a recent inspection of Air India's Boeing 787 fleet yielded no significant safety concerns prior to this incident.
Given the global usage of the Boeing 787, the investigation's conclusions carry substantial weight. Should a systemic issue within the aircraft model arise, it may lead to regulatory changes that could impact the aviation community broadly.
All indications thus far have suggested no wrongdoing by the flight crew or Air India—but the ongoing examination of evidence is expected to continue through meticulous data analysis and assessments of both the aircraft's components and pilot training standards.
As investigators delve deeper into these findings, they anticipate early indicators that may shine a light on the series of events that led to this tragic incident. Advances in technology make the analysis today far more sophisticated compared to previous decades, enabling more comprehensive evaluations of flight data.
The investigation is sure to reveal further details in the weeks ahead as officials strive to bring clarity to this devastating airline accident.
