What Could Have Brought Down AI-171? Aviation Expert Captain Steve's Theory Goes Viral

News18

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In a detailed video on the Air India AI-171 crash, the aviation expert analysed flight footage and suggested a possible cockpit error, but stressed it was just one theory
Days after the plane crash in Ahmedabad, one of India's deadliest aviation disasters, a new theory about what could've brought down Air India Flight AI-171 is gaining traction online. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which crashed into a residential hostel shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport for London Gatwick, killed at least 274 people, including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground.
Now, international aviation expert Captain Steve's video is going viral on X (formerly Twitter), in which he suggests the crash may have been caused by accidental flap retraction instead of landing gear—a cockpit error he calls 'a tragic mistake".
Speaking earlier to CNN-News18, Steve had discussed other possible scenarios, including flap mismanagement and a bird strike, though he noted that it would likely require 'a large number of birds" to cripple an aircraft like the 787.
#Exclusive | Don't think the gear was ever raised. The handle never got touched. We will know for sure once the #blackbox is recovered. Don't think the plane lost power: Captain Steve, Aviation Expert #AhemdabadPlaneCrash #AirIndiaPlaneCrash #BrassTacks | @Zakka_Jacob pic.twitter.com/sK6Yy4JCt7 — News18 (@CNNnews18) June 13, 2025
Lift Wasn't Building, But Engines Seemed Fine
He argued that the absence of this wing flex suggested the aircraft was struggling to generate the lift needed for a steady climb, an early warning sign that something was aerodynamically off. Importantly, Steve also ruled out engine failure based on what was visible in the footage. According to him, there were no external signs of either engine losing power. 'This airplane can fly just fine on one engine at any gross weight… The idea that both engines failed at the same time… is like a billion, a trillion to one shot," he said.
Wrong Lever? The Flap-Gear Mix-Up Theory
He then laid out a scenario in which the pilot may have called for the gear to be raised, but the co-pilot could have mistakenly pulled the flap lever instead. 'If that happened, and this is a big if, this explains a lot by why this airplane stopped flying, why the lift over the wings died," he said.
At takeoff speed and weight, losing that additional lift—while the landing gear remains extended—could, he argued, trigger a power-on stall. 'Now the flaps are retracting, all that extra lift you're producing in the wings goes away. You're already slow… you've still got those great big landing gear out there producing all sorts of drag. This is a bad combination."
As the aircraft struggled, Steve said the pilot likely pulled back on the nose in a last-ditch effort to stay airborne. 'The airplane begins to kind of wallow… the pilot pulls back even more on the nose. That aggravates the whole thing."
Low Altitude, No Room For Recovery
He believes the aircraft likely never climbed higher than 500 to 600 feet before it began descending fatally. With little altitude to recover, the pilots couldn't lower the nose to regain airspeed, something Steve described as a 'controlled power-on stall" that ultimately ended in impact with the ground.
While he acknowledged other possible scenarios, such as a bird strike or fuel contamination, he argued that those are less convincing. In his assessment, the flight's behaviour points more towards an aerodynamic failure than a mechanical one. He noted that a power loss and a lift loss are not the same, and that a plane can still lose lift even if the engines are functioning properly, especially if the wing configuration is incorrect for that phase of flight.
'I Feel So Sorry For These Pilots'
He ended on a sombre note: 'It's very sad. I feel so sorry for these pilots. I think they tried valiantly to save this airplane, but this may have been simply a tragic mistake."
Steve acknowledged that his theory is based on preliminary observations and may be disproven once black box data is analysed. He said he would not hesitate to revise his assessment if new information emerges. 'And if I need to make a correction, I'll be the first guy to make a correction."
So, What Does This All Mean?
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In simple terms, Captain Steve said that the crash might have happened because someone in the cockpit accidentally pressed the wrong control, pulling back the wing flaps instead of raising the wheels. That would've made it harder for the plane to stay in the air, especially just after takeoff when it's heavy and slow.
But this is just one person's theory, based on video and experience. The actual cause is still unknown. Investigators are going through the black box data, and until they finish, no explanation can be treated as fact.
tags :
Ahmedabad Plane Crash
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
June 14, 2025, 13:31 IST
News india What Could Have Brought Down AI-171? Aviation Expert Captain Steve's Theory Goes Viral