
Air India Gujarat plane crash: 'Why was landing gear down?', aviation experts on what might have caused crash
Air India plane crash
NEW DELHI: In the wake of the
Air India plane crash
in Gujarat on Thursday, aviation experts are raising critical questions about the circumstances leading up to the incident.
The crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff, has left investigators and aviation specialists questioning.
Former pilot Ehsan Khalid emphasized the importance of the Flight Data Recorder, Cockpit Voice Recorder, and ACARS data in determining the exact cause of the crash.
"The visuals show that the aircraft went down while flying. Which means there was no mid-air explosion," Khalid said.
He pointed out that the aircraft appeared to have faced a loss of power, which could be attributed to engine malfunction. However, he stressed that it is highly unlikely for both engines to fail simultaneously, especially due to a bird strike within such a short timeframe.
"The visuals show that the aircraft faced a loss of power... The loss of power can be due to engine malfunction, but it is very unlikely that both engines would lose power simultaneously.
.. It is a very big engine, and it is rare that both engines lose power due to a bird hit in a one-minute duration," he added to his explanation on the possible cause.
Khalid also highlighted the pilot's mayday call, suggesting that the crew was aware of a failure and attempted to manage it while airborne.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
"I don't understand why the landing gear was still down... The landing gear is raised as soon as the flight takes off... Since the landing gear was down, it is possible that a loss of engine was detected beforehand... There are many variables, and any speculation would be unjust..
. The biggest question is why the landing gear was not up. The flight was at a height of 600 feet... Whether it was one problem or multiple problems, no one can say anything yet," he added.
Meanwhile, US aerospace safety consultant Anthony Brickhouse voiced similar concerns, noting that the landing gear's position was unusual for that phase of flight. "If you didn't know what was happening, you would think that plane was on approach to a runway," Brickhouse said, pointing to the anomaly.
As investigators work to piece together the events leading up to the crash, the focus remains on understanding the cause of the crash. The aircraft was reportedly at a height of 600 feet when the incident occurred, raising questions about whether the crew was dealing with a single problem or multiple issues simultaneously.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
Govt Announces Formation Of High-Level Committee To Probe Air India Plane Crash
Last Updated: The Ministry of Civil Aviation formed a committee to investigate the Air India Flight AI-171 crash on June 12, which caused 274 deaths, and recommend improved SOPs. The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the causes of the fatal crash of Air India Flight AI-171, which occurred on June 12 en route from Ahmedabad to London's Gatwick Airport, resulting in at least 274 fatalities, including 241 onboard and those on the ground. According to the ministry, the panel will assess the circumstances leading to the crash and evaluate existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and safety guidelines currently in place. In a post on X, the ministry said that the committee's primary objective is to recommend a robust framework for preventing and effectively managing similar aviation incidents in the future. The ministry also clarified that this Committee will not be a substitute for other enquiries being conducted by relevant organisations, but will focus on formulating SOPs for preventing and handling such occurrences in the future. First Published:


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Air India passenger Akash Vatsa, who flagged ‘unusual things' before crash, now shares what he 'noticed'
Akash Vatsa went viral on social media after claiming he had flown on the same Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight just hours before it crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday. His post soon drew widespread attention not just for the timing, but because he claimed to have some important observations about the aircraft's condition. In his post, Akash Vatsa also urged authorities to get in touch with him so he could share his observations about the crashed flight. "I was in the same damn flight 2 hours before it took off from AMD. I came in this from DEL-AMD. Noticed unusual things in the place. Made a video to tweet to @airindia. I would want to give more details. Please contact me," his post had said. Akash, who was onboard during its earlier leg from Delhi to Ahmedabad, spoke with news agency ANI and shared his account. While the flight seemed routine at first, Akash said he noticed something unusual. 'At cruising altitude, I noticed that the rear part of the flaps was moving up and down repeatedly,' Vatsa said while speaking to ANI, adding that he was no expert and someone associated with aviation would understand it better. "I did not witness any issues when the flight took off. I felt something was unusual with the plane's flaps outside. Experts will be able to decode this better. The ACs were not working properly when the flight was on the ground before taking off," he said. However, it must be noted that whether Vatsa's observations have any connection to Thursday's crash is not clear, and the exact cause of the mishap will only be ascertained after a thorough probe, which is underway. The London-bound Air India plane crashed into a medical college complex in Ahmedabad and burst into a ball of fire less than a minute after takeoff. The dead in the country's worst air disaster in recent times included several people on the ground. Air India has confirmed that 241 people, who were on board, were killed in the crash. One person has survived the accident and is currently under medical observation. Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a full-scale investigation into the crash, with over 40 staff from the Gujarat State Government joining efforts to support the Ministry of Civil Aviation teams on the ground. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ahmedabad on Friday and took stock of the situation at the crash site. He also met those injured in the incident at the Ahmedabad civic hospital.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Air India plane crash: Is seat 11A safest on plane? Not really, experts say
Representative image LONDON: The survival of a passenger who escaped through an exit door seconds after his Air India flight crashed killing everyone else on board has prompted speculation over whether his seat, 11A, is the safest. Aviation experts say it is not so straightforward because aircraft vary widely in seat configurations, crashes are unique and survival often hinges on a complex interplay of factors. "Each accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survivability based on seat location," said Mitchell Fox, a director at Flight Safety Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit. Viswashkumar Ramesh said his 11A seat was near an emergency exit on the London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad on Thursday and he managed to walk out. Sitting next to an exit door might help you survive an accident but it won't always be 11A because aircraft can have dozens of different configurations. "In this particular instance, because the passenger was sitting adjacent to the emergency exit, this was obviously the safest seat on the day," said Ron Bartsch, Chairman at Sydney-based AvLaw Aviation Consulting. "But it's not always 11A, it's just 11A on this configuration of the Boeing 787." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo A 2007 Popular Mechanics study of crashes since 1971 found that passengers towards the back of the plane had better survival odds. Some experts suggest the wing section offers more stability. Sitting next to an exit door, like Ramesh, gives you an opportunity to be one of the first out of the plane, although some exits don't function after a crash. The opposite side of the plane was blocked by the wall of a building it crashed into, he said. In January of last year, a panel missing several bolts blew off the side of a Boeing 737 MAX mid-flight, creating a gaping hole and damaging the adjacent seat. Fortunately, no one was seated there at the time, and the incident resulted in no fatalities. Sitting by the aisle might offer you a speedier escape, but it increases the likelihood of being hit in the head by luggage falling out of the overhead bins - a much more common occurrence than major crashes. Paying attention to the safety briefing at the start of your flight is likely the best way to improve your chances of survival, experts say. Disciplined compliance with cabin crew evacuation advice was a key factor in saving the lives of all 379 passengers and crew aboard a Japan Airlines flight in January last year. REUTERS