Air India crash investigators reveal new breakthrough theory on cause of tragedy

Wales Online

6 hours ago

Air India crash investigators reveal new breakthrough theory on cause of tragedy
Investigators probing the crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad have given an insight into their investigation
The fuselage of the crashed Air India jet after leaving Ahmedabad
(Image: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )
The ill-fated Air India flight that tragically crashed last Thursday may have had an emergency-power generator in operation at the time of the crash, according to investigators. This revelation raises questions about whether the engine of the AI171 flight was functioning correctly during take-off.
The aircraft met its tragic end in a residential area just seconds after departing from Ahmedabad airport. The Wall Street Journal reported that the failure of both engines during take off was being looked into as the cause of the devastating loss of at least 270 lives in the crash, including 241 out of the 242 people on board the plane and several individuals on the ground in the Indian city.
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The emergency system, known as a ram air turbine, is designed to deploy automatically in flight if both engines fail or if all three hydraulic system pressures are low, as per the instruction manual for Boeing 787 planes.
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This back-up system is typically activated if a pilot believes that both engines have failed. Engine failure can be triggered by a variety of factors, such as bird strikes or fuel issues.
Anthony Brickhouse, a US-based aerospace safety consultant, told the Wall Street Journal that twin engine failures were extremely rare, reports the Express.
Mr Brickhouse told the WSJ: "Engine failures can result from a variety of causes, including bird strikes or problems with fuel.
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'In commercial aviation, a dual engine failure is extremely rare. Our engines today are more efficient and reliable than ever.'
The flight only reached a maximum altitude of 625 feet after leaving the airport in Ahmedabad. It stopped submitting location data just 50 seconds into the flight.
The investigation is probing whether the flight suffered a loss or reduction of thrust but, despite the finding about the ram air turbine, investigators have not confirmed exactly what happened or why the emergency system was triggered.
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It is the first time that one of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets have suffered a fatal incident since the airliner went into service in 2011.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Our staff continue to work around the clock in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those impacted by the crash.
"We have set up a reception centre at the Ummed Hotel, near the Ahmedabad airport, and have a dedicated helpline to provide support and advice for the families and friends of British nationals - friends or family should call 020 7008 5000.
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"If you are in India, you should call [phone] for support, including through in-person consular staff who are available to support families of British nationals, including accompanying them to the hospital.
"Furthermore, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch has deployed an investigation team to support the Indian-led investigation on the ground, and UK forensic experts are there to support the consular response."