Puzzling Over the Plane Crash: Expert Wonders About Thrust Shortage in Air India Disaster
Aircraft accidents exhibiting clear issues suggested by professionals
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With over 240 casualties and only one survivor from the tragic Air India plane crash, aviation experts are left scratching their heads. As specialists rush to the crash site, aviation journalist Andreas Spaeth is closely following the unfolding events. He finds the incident to be "truly bizarre."
Invoking the footage he's seen, Spaeth describes a seemingly normal takeoff at Ahmedabad airport. But the plane fails to ascend, instead flying for agonizing seconds at an altitude of approximately 190 meters, heading straight ahead and crashing. This sequence of events is "incredibly hard to explain," Spaeth states, and points towards the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner not having enough thrust. The engines might have failed during or shortly after takeoff.
A potential explanation put forth by Spaeth is that the fuel on board could have been contaminated, either intentionally or as an accident. He also suggests that the pilots might have deliberately crashed the plane, although human error and sabotage are also on the table.
Did the Pilots Cause the Crash?
Ex-pilot Ehsan Khalid isn't ready to rule out the pilots as the cause of the incident. He finds it improbable for both engines to fail simultaneously, and wonders why the landing gear was still deployed. According to him, the wheels should immediately retract after takeoff. The unsettling question he's left with concerns the pilots' behavior.
A video recording of the crash could shed light on the situation. It suggests that the flaps were retracted, a maneuver designed to help the aircraft gain altitude. It's possible that a pilot or co-pilot accidentally operated the wrong lever in the cockpit, as the control lever for the flaps is located close to the one for the landing gear.
Double Engine Failure: An Unusual Case
Aviation expert Spaeth states that double engine failure is quite rare. However, there is a known precedent: in 2009, pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger managed to land an Airbus in the Hudson River after both engines failed due to a double bird strike. Spaeth believes a bird strike can be ruled out in this case since no birds were visible in the widespread footage, and no smoke or fire was emanating from the engines.
The lucky discovery of the black boxes is promising, as they will provide crucial data regarding the technical settings and conversations in the cockpit[1][3]. Spaeth is encouraging, sharing that the data recorders seem to be relatively intact and well-insulated, increasing the possibility of a smooth data extraction. This, he says, gives "cause for optimism" that there was no catastrophic fire in the rear of the Boeing, and we could be looking at answers in the following days[1].
British experts have already been dispatched to Ahmedabad to aid in the wreckage recovery and data analysis. US President Trump has also pledged his country's support in the event that India makes a request[2]. Boeing is planning to collaborate with the authorities to identify the root cause of the disaster.
Sources:
- ntv.de
- mpa
- India Today
- India
- Plane crash
- Aircraft
- Boeing
- Accidents
- Aviation
- The community on social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Reddit, Discord, and Pinterest, are discussing the recent Air India plane crash and its potential causes, including the possibility of a thrust shortage or a problem with vocational training of the pilots.
- As the investigation into the Air India plane crash continues, finance experts are closely monitoring the potential financial implications for the airline industry, particularly as it pertains to Boeing, given their involvement in the accident and the possibility of increased insurance costs or penalties.
- With the black boxes recovered from the Air India plane crash, transportation authorities are planning vocational training programs for their investigative teams to properly analyze the data, aiming to identify any issues with the aviation industry's general-news safety protocols, maintenance, or operations.
