Investigation Underway Following Fatal Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Details of the Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: As investigations continue into the tragic incident, former pilot Ehsan Khalid has indicated that a power loss might have played a role in the crash of Air India Flight AI-171. However, he believes it is improbable for both engines to fail at the same time. The crash, which occurred near Ahmedabad airport, resulted in the deaths of 241 individuals, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The flight, bound for London, took off at 1:17 PM but began its descent shortly thereafter, ultimately crashing into the BJ Medical College and Hospital.
Insights from Former Pilot
Former Pilot Rules Out Mid-Air Explosion
In an interview, Khalid stated that the precise cause of the crash will only be established after a thorough examination of critical data, including the Flight Data Recorder, Cockpit Voice Recorder, and ACARS data. He noted that footage from the incident suggests there was no explosion in the air, as the aircraft descended while still in flight.
“The Flight Data Recorder, Cockpit Voice Recorder, and ACARS data will clarify the cause of the crash. The visuals indicate that the aircraft went down while flying, which rules out a mid-air explosion. A loss of power could stem from an engine malfunction, but it is highly unlikely that both engines would fail at once,” Khalid explained.
Khalid also raised concerns about a possible engine issue early in the flight, questioning why the landing gear remained deployed after take-off.
“The pilot issued a mayday call, indicating a failure was detected in the cockpit. They were airborne while managing that failure… However, I find it puzzling that the landing gear was still down… It is usually retracted immediately after take-off. This could imply that engine power loss was detected earlier,” he added.
Khalid urged caution against jumping to conclusions, emphasizing that many factors could be at play.
“There are numerous variables, and any speculation would be premature… The critical question is why the landing gear was not retracted. The flight was only at an altitude of 600 feet… Whether this was due to a single failure or multiple issues remains uncertain,” he stated.
Official Investigation Launched
In related news, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has announced that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a formal investigation into the crash, adhering to international aviation safety standards.