Bird strike may have caused Air India crash
Saurabh Bhatnagar told Indian news TV channel New Delhi Television LTD the incident appears to involve 'multiple bird hits'.
He said: 'It looks, prima facie, like a case of multiple bird hits wherein both the engines have lost power.
'The take-off was perfect and just, I believe, short of taking the gear up, the aircraft started descending, which can happen only in case the engine loses power or the aircraft stops developing lift.
'Obviously, the investigation will reveal the exact reason.'
He added that footage show the plane 'came down in a controlled fashion'.
Bird strikes are defined as a collision between a bird and an aircraft which is in flight, taking-off or landing.
A large flock of birds entering an aircraft engine can cause power loss.
Efforts to reduce the number of bird strikes include using lights on planes to make them more visible to birds, and making loud noises at airports to scare them away.
Latest Civil Aviation Authority figures show there were 1,432 incidents reported in the UK in 2022.
Professor John McDermid, of the University of York, said it was too early to know 'in any detail' what may have caused the Air India incident, but the timing suggests the issue happened 'very suddenly'.
He said: 'Take-off and landing are the most dangerous phases of flight.
'However, that said, it's surprising that the accident occurred before the aircraft had even got to 200 metres altitude.
'Pilots can abort take-off until quite late in the take-off roll, so it seems like the problem occurred very suddenly in the final part of the take-off roll, or shortly after take-off, and was sufficiently serious to be unmanageable.
'Given the levels of redundancy in systems, the fact that aircraft are designed to climb out on only one engine, etc. on initial sight this seems a very surprising accident.'
Professor McDermid added it is 'very unlikely' the plane was overweight or carrying too much fuel as 'there are careful checks on this'.
Graham Braithwaite, director of aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, said take-off is a 'critical stage of flight' as the plane is accelerating and 'any problem-solving requires a rapid response'.
Paul Williams, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading, said the weather conditions at the airport when the crash happened 'appear to have been very good'.
He added: 'It was a dry and sunny day in Ahmedabad, with temperatures near 40C.
'There was good visibility and light winds from the west.
'There was no bad weather in the vicinity.
'There is no indication at this stage that turbulence or other weather conditions were a factor in the crash.'
The accident will be investigated by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch is also likely to be involved because of the number of British nationals onboard.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
39 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Nigella Lawson's 'best scone' recipe that's 'light and fluffy' with perfect rise
Nigella Lawson has shared her recipe for scones, which she describes as the "best scones" she's ever eaten. The sweet treat is perfect for afternoon tea or as a snack "These are the best scones I've ever eaten," TV cook Nigella Lawson declared about the quintessentially British treat. The scone, a classic British delight, is perfect for afternoon tea - and Nigella has shared her secret to baking your own. There's no hard and fast rule about when to enjoy a scone, some might fancy one for brunch or even after dinner. Nigella's top-notch scone recipe includes cream of tartar - not to be confused with clotted cream - which gives the scone a wonderfully light texture. When it comes to topping your scone, you can't beat the classic: cream and jam. But how would you layer yours? Scone recipe Ingredients 500g plain flour One teaspoon of salt Two teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda Four-and-a-half teaspoons of cream of tartar 50g of cold unsalted butter (diced) 25g trex vegetable shortening (or use another 25g of butter) 300ml milk One large egg (beaten, for egg-wash) Equipment 6½cm crinkle-edged round cutter Lightly greased baking tray Method "Rub in the fats till it goes like damp sand," Nigella Lawson advised. Add the milk, mix briefly, then turn out onto a floured surface and knead lightly to form a dough. Roll out to about 3cm thickness. Dip the cutter into some flour, then stamp out at least 10 scones, reports the Express. Place on the baking tray very close together then brush the tops with the egg-wash. Pop them in the oven and cook for 10 minutes or until they've risen and turned golden. "Always eat freshly baked, preferably still warm from the oven, with clotted cream and jam," Nigella Lawson recommended. Making your own jam Jam Prep: under 30 minutes Cooks in: 10 to 30 minutes Makes: three jars of jam Ingredients 450g raspberries 450g granulated sugar Method Article continues below Once the sugar has dissolved, bring the fruity and sugary mixture to a rapid, rolling boil. Cook for three to five minutes until the jam has reached setting point. To check if the jam is ready, take the pan off the heat and spoon a small amount onto the chilled plate. If the jam wrinkles when slightly cooled and pressed on, it's done; if not, it requires further cooking. After cooking, transfer the jam into sterilised jars and consume within the following few weeks.
Daily Mirror
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Two 'old' UK pennies worth over £100,000 - how to spot them
Both of these coins are extremely rare making them highly sought-after An expert has urged Brits to keep an eye out for two coins that combined could be worth a life-changing amount. These pre-decimal pennies, dated 1919 and 1933, might fetch more than £101,000 to collectors. In both cases it is their rarity that makes these pieces so sought after. And while they are no longer in circulation, there is still a chance they could show up in an attic or old coin jar. Speaking in a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, an expert known online as the Coin Collecting Wizard explained what to look for. He said: 'Who remembers these predecimal pennies? Check out these rare ones.' Firstly he described what is known as the 1919 KN penny. The expert said: 'The 1919 KN penny is a rare and highly sought after coin among collectors and one to definitely keep an eye out for.' Unlike most other penny coins of the era it features the initials 'KN' on its reverse side (tails side). This is because it was produced by the King's Norton Mint rather than the Royal Mint. He continued: 'Struck at the King's Norton Mint, hence the KN Mint Mark below the date, it was part of a limited batch produced when the Royal Mint outsourced some coin production after World War One. While not all 1919 pennies are rare, the KN variety is much harder to find, especially in high grades.' If you find this coin in great condition you could be able to sell it for more than £1,000. He said: 'In mint or uncirculated condition this penny can fetch well over £1,000 making it a valuable piece of British numismatic history. 'Its scarcity, historical context and distinctive mint mark all add to its appeal for collectors.' Next, he spoke about the infamous 1933 penny. It is highly unlikely that you would find one in your change as it is thought only seven were ever made. This occurred because there was no requirement for new pennies in that year. The coin features Britannia on its reverse and a depiction of George V on the obverse (head side). It could be worth an impressive £100,000 due to its rarity. He said: 'The 1933 penny, yeah you are not going to find this one as only seven are known to exist but if you did then you are looking at over £100,000.'
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
NHS pays tribute to 'dedicated' doctor and family who died in plane crash
Dr Prateek Joshi was flying back to the UK with his wife Komi Vyas and their three children on the doomed Air India plane after they planned to settle down in the East Midlands In an emotional tribute University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) and the NHS have shared their "deep sadness" following the tragic death of Dr Prateek Joshi and his family in the Air India plane crash this week. There were among the 242 passengers and crew on board, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Brits, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian. Harrowing stories of the dead continued to emerge on Friday - including more tributes for Dr Joshi and his family who posted a selfie of them innocently smiling after boarding the Boeing 787 plane before it took off. Dr Joshi, 43, worked as a consultant radiologist at the Royal Derby Hospital and Queen's Hospital Burton for four years, after moving to Derby from India in 2021. He was flying back to the UK with his wife Komi Vyas – a fellow doctor - their daughter Miraya, eight, and twin sons, Pradyut and Nakul, five, who planned to settle down in the East Midlands. The NHS has released a new tribute to the doctor and his family on Friday. Dr Rajeev Singh, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Director for Imaging at UHDB, who knew the family well has shared some words which truly capture the person Prateek was. Dr Singh said: "Prateek was full of joy, he was a wonderful man, friend, husband and father, and an exceptional Radiologist who was highly respected in his field. He approached everything with a smile, radiated positivity and had a great sense of humour. "He moved to Derby, from India, in 2021, quickly becoming a beloved colleague. He often entertained colleagues with stories about his passions outside of work, including his newly discovered love of fish and chips and enthusiasm for walking in the Peak District. "He touched the lives of so many people, both through his clinical work and as a colleague and friend to many. "It is hard to accept that a man with such a passion for life, and his beautiful young family, have been taken in this way. His passing has left a profound void, not only in his professional contributions but in the warmth and spirit that he gave to the world every day." Royal Derby Hospital described Dr Joshi as 'not only an excellent doctor for whom nothing was too much trouble, but also a warm, smiling and kind man who was a hugely liked and valued member of the team'. Stephen Posey, Chief Executive, added: "We are profoundly and deeply saddened at the loss of our dedicated and talented colleague, Dr Prateek Joshi and his family. Prateek was not only an excellent doctor for whom nothing was too much trouble, but also a warm, smiling and kind man who was a hugely liked and valued member of the team. "We are privileged that Prateek chose to give his skills, talent and knowledge to the NHS, and he will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of working with him." The NHS statement concluded: "Our thoughts are with Dr Joshi's family, friends and colleagues, and everyone who has been impacted by this tragedy, which is being felt across the world and within our local communities."
