Boeing's safety record under scrutiny after Air India disaster
Questions swirl about the safety of the Boeing jet that crashed on take-off in India, the first fatal incident involving the Dreamliner.
The 787-8 Dreamliner departing Ahmedabad, India for London Gatwick Airport was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew when it plunged into a residential area seconds after lifting off a runway on Thursday. There was a single survivor.
Flightradar24 listed the Air India flight 171 as having completed a return flight from Delhi to Melbourne on Sunday.
Shares in Boeing fell 4.8 per cent on Wall Street on a broadly positive session, as questions about safety issues at the aircraft manufacturer resurfaced.
There are nearly 1200 Dreamliners in service worldwide made by Boeing, a company already under a cloud for deadly manufacturing issues related to the smaller 737 Max.
Dr Oleksandra Molloy, a senior lecturer in aviation at the University of New South Wales, said the Air India crash may impact Boeing's reputation if it's proven the disaster is linked 'to the design or performance of an aircraft'.
'Specifically, it raises serious concerns regarding Boeing's quality control and systemic issues with Boeing's operations.'
Based on the video evidence, human error may also be a cause. 'Incorrect weight entry by the crew can cause insufficient lift, and lead to wrong engine settings.'
'It also appears that there were technical malfunctions, where the landing gear remained extended, and wing flaps were not properly deployed during take-off and they are quite vital because they help an aircraft generate maximum lift at a lower speed,' Dr Molloy said.
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