Air India passenger Akash Vatsa, who flagged ‘unusual things' before crash, now shares what he 'noticed'
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Viral Video: New footage of UPS 747-8F engine pod strike during landing at Taiwan International Airport surface
Months after the Air India flight AI171, Boeing 787-8, crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad, India, another footage of a UPS Boeing 747-8F surfaced on social media, experiencing an engine pod strike during landing at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (RCTP) on Wednesday. Since the clip surfaced online, it quickly went viral and started making the rounds on the internet. A UPS Airlines Boeing 747 8 freighter had a dramatic landing in Taiwan yesterday after departing from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). While attempting to land at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), the aircraft experienced an engine pod strike, sending a burst of sparks into the night sky. The impact caused visible damage to the engine pod. The incident happened during the plane's third landing attempt, as strong, gusty winds created extremely difficult conditions for the crew on Wednesday night. UPS Airlines flight 5X61 faced an engine damage issue; the video went viral According to Simple Flying, UPS Airlines flight 5X61 is a regularly scheduled cargo flight that starts in Hong Kong. While its final destination is Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Louisville, Kentucky, it has stops en route in Taipei and at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) in the US federal state of Alaska. This airline uses both Boeing 747-400F and 747-8F cargo aircraft on this long route. On Wednesday, the flight left Hong Kong at 17:50 local time and was in the air for two hours and 20 minutes, around an hour longer than normal. Initially, because of the strong gusting winds prevailing in Taipei, the aircraft had to make three approaches before making a successful landing. However, during the landing, the aircraft's number four engine, located on the outer right wing, made contact with the runway, causing a burst of sparks to fly into the air. New footage of a UPS Boeing 747-8F experiencing an engine pod strike during landing at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (RCTP).📸 by Jal_kana Viral video shows the dramatic damage to the aircraft The viral video shows how challenging the weather conditions were for aircraft landing in Taipei the previous night. According to the Aviation Safety Network, the windshear affecting the area during the incident was linked to Typhoon Podul. The severe weather conditions significantly disrupted airport operations in Taipei. Data from Flight Aware revealed that a total of 180 departures and 141 arrivals were delayed on the same day. However, the dramatic nature of the aircraft's touchdown has left netizens in shock. Netizens react to the viral aeroplane video As soon as the video surfaced on the internet, it quickly went viral and grabbed attention. One X (formerly called Twitter) user wrote, "That looks like a very strong crosswind!" "Totally, looks like the pilots tried to save left side but hit the right engine," another added. "Tough !!!! Whatever it came down on its wheels so good job" "Is that just crosswinds or a control surface jam (rudder stuck?)" To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
News18
10 hours ago
- News18
15 Million Girls Out Of Primary Schools Worldwide Due To Gender Discrimination: UN Report
Last Updated: The report was released around the fourth anniversary of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, following the country's recapture after the US and allied forces' withdrawal in 2021. News18 15 million primary-age girls worldwide are currently out of school due to systemic gender discrimination that hinders equal access to education for girls and young women globally, a new report by UN Women revealed on Wednesday. Despite progress over recent decades, including near gender parity in primary and secondary school enrolment rates on average, significant disparities remain in many regions, with some areas seeing as many as 48.1 per cent of girls out of school. The situation is particularly stark when compared to boys, with 15 million girls out of primary school versus 10 million boys, the report highlighted. The report also notes that more girls than ever before are attending school, and each additional year of education after the primary level greatly improves a girl's chances of avoiding early marriage, gaining employment, and achieving better health and overall well-being. However, adolescent girls continue to face barriers to education, with many dropping out of secondary school due to early pregnancy and expectations to assist with domestic responsibilities, according to ANI. 'More girls than ever before are going to school. Not only do they learn to read and write, but each year that they remain in school after the primary level reduces their chance of marrying at too young an age. It increases their prospects for employment, health and overall well-being. Girls and women have an equal right to a quality education and learning throughout all phases of their lives," the report read. 'Despite progress, as many as 48.1 per cent of girls remain out of school in some regions. Gender gaps in primary and secondary enrolment rates have nearly closed, on average. Yet 15 million girls are not in primary school right now, compared to 10 million boys. In adolescence, higher numbers of girls often drop out of secondary school for reasons including early pregnancy and the expectation that they should contribute to household work," it added. The United Nations in a post on X also highlighted that matter, stating, 'Education is a human right. Yet, young women & girls continue to face discrimination & marginalisation in many countries, including unequal access to school." The report was released around the fourth anniversary of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, following the country's recapture after the US and allied forces' withdrawal in 2021. UN Women reported that 78 per cent of young Afghan women are not in education, employment, or training, nearly four times the rate for young men. The report also projected that by 2026, early childbearing will rise by 45 per cent, and maternal mortality could increase by more than 50 per cent. Additionally, it highlighted that denying girls a secondary education will cost Afghanistan 2.5 per cent of its GDP every year. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Parl panel flags concrete highway failures; calls out design flaws, weak oversight, and rampant subcontracting
Prayagraj, Aug 03 (ANI): A road caves in following heavy rainfall, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. NEW DELHI: The road transport and highways ministry has admitted design failures, weak quality assurance and over-reliance on highway builders as some of the factors for certain newly built highway stretches with concrete pavement collapsing in rain-prone and low-lying areas, according to the latest report of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament. Raising concerns over the 'indiscriminate shift' from bituminous to concrete roads without adequate assessment, the committee said this has led to poor-quality outcomes, delays, and potential wastage of public funds. The panel has recommended the ministry and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) adopt a mandatory, evidence-based framework for selecting pavement materials — bituminous, concrete, or otherwise — based on site-specific technical and environmental assessments. This, it said, should be integrated into the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). The panel referred to specific instances, including a section on Delhi–Vadodara Expressway that got damaged. 'These roads, which were expected to offer long-term service with minimal maintenance are found to have developed premature cracks, surface distress, and failures in pavement quality concrete (PQC), often within a short period of completion,' the report mentioned. The committee also took note of how the entire task of project preparation, execution and even supervision are left to contractors and consultants while NHAI's internal role is limited to formal approvals. It observed that such 'delegation of responsibility weakens accountability', especially when supervision consultants also fail to flag design deficiencies. It referred to the Kooriyad collapse in Kerala which was attributed to inaccurate geotechnical assessments and poor oversight by both highway builder and the supervision consultant. 'The committee are of the view that the methodology being followed by NHAI could help it escape responsibility but this brings bad repute to NHAI as an design scrutiny is important, implementation of approved design should also be ensured and no short cut measures to reduce costs by the concessionaire/ sub contractors may be permitted,' the panel said. The PAC has also called out the ministry on the practice of subcontracting in NH projects — primary contractor assigns or outsources its work to other parties. Taking note of ministry's submission that much of road infrastructure is executed by sub-contractors, who might not be accountable under the primary contract framework, the committee said 'unchecked layering of contractors and sub-contractors' has led to 'diffusion of accountability', where NHAI has limited leverage to enforce quality standards or timely delivery It has recommended the ministry to discourage subcontracting beyond one level — contractor to one subcontractor. 'If further subcontracting is absolutely necessary, it should only be allowed with special approval from NHAI. NHAI must ensure that all subcontractors are registered, get prior approval, and are clearly documented,' it said.
