Latest news with #Chesley"Sully"Sullenberger
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
What caused the Air India plane disaster? Six main theories emerge – from mystery over landing gear to 40C weather
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHILE the exact cause of the horrific Air India crash is not yet known, speculation continues to swirl online. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 242 passengers on board - including 53 Brits and 11 children - smashed into a doctors' hostel in the west of India on Thursday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 A fire officer stands next to the crashed Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft Credit: Reuters 12 The Air India plane crashed into a medical college campus creating a huge fireball Credit: x/nchorAnandN 12 The plane's tail can be seen sticking out of a building following the crash Credit: AP 12 People sift through the debris of Air India flight AI171 as they search for survivors Credit: Alamy The plane was heading to London Gatwick when it crashed just moments after take-off. One of Flight AI171's two "black boxes" has reportedly been recovered - which should provide crucial evidence on the fatal five minutes between the plane's takeoff and impact. Follow our live blog here... The black box will provide technical information on details like time, airspeed, altitude and hearing. And the cockpit voice recorder may also offer vital clues such as any conversation between the two pilots, any engine noises or bangs, stall warnings or sounds of other equipment. The crash killed at least 265 people - including those on board and locals on the ground. As crash investigators begin to pour over that data, The Sun looks at six main theories as potential causes for India's worst ever aviation disaster. Bird strikes 12 Aviation experts believe the aircraft's engines could have been struck by birds Credit: X A bird strike could have taken out both of the jet's General Electric engines. While a bird taking down something the size of a commercial airliner might sound fanciful, there are numerous examples. Most famous was US Airways Flight 1549, which suffered double engine failure in 2009 after being hit by a flock of Canada geese shortly after taking off from New York's LaGuardia Airport. The plane, captained by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson river - earning the tagline the "Miracle on the Hudson" since there were zero casualities. Ahmedabad Airport is known to have a large avian population - a study in 2018 found the airport has 'a high potential of bird-aircraft collision hazards'. Captain C S Randhawa, who has flown a Boeing 777 for 15 years, and was the former Deputy Chief Flight Inspector, Operations, at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said a bird strike was "the most probable' cause of the crash. "Both Ahmedabad and Agra airports are full of birds. Incidents of aircraft being hit by birds keep happening on and off," he told The New Indian Express. Aviation safety consultant and instructor Captain Mohan Ranganathan told the same publication: "Bird hit appears to be the reason as of now. "Ahmedabad airport has a history of a huge bird population. I flagged this issue 17 years ago and have written extensively about it too." Brit survivor WALKS AWAY unscathed from Air India plane crash after jumping from flaming jet Captain Ranganathan claims that the birds are drawn to the slaughterhouses near the airport He added: 'The reason for such a huge presence is due to slaughterhouses in the vicinity of airports which should never have been allowed. "They are never relocated by the authorities because they are owned by politicians or their relatives.' In January 2021, an identical plane to the one involved in Thursday's crash aborted a take-off in Mexico after birds flew into one of its engines. Wing Flap Position 12 CCTV footage shows the doomed Air India Dreamliner taking off in Ahmedabad Credit: ViralPress Aviation experts have suggested that the position of the aircraft's wing flaps could have played a role in the disaster. Video evidence suggests the flaps were fully retracted, which would have provided minimal lift. The aircraft's landing gear also remained deployed throughout which would have increased potentially fatal drag. One theory is that the landing gear was stuck and pilots retracted the flaps to reduce drag or that the flaps were faulty and caused the plane to stall. Aviation expert Terry Tozer, author of Confessions of an Airline Pilot, told the BBC: "It's very hard to say from the video for sure, it doesn't look as if the flaps are extended and that would be a perfectly obvious explanation for an aircraft not completing its take-off correctly." Marco Chan, a former pilot and a senior lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University, said: "That would point to potential human error if flaps aren't set correctly, but the resolution of the video is too low to confirm that." Pilot error 12 The plane's captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of flying experience The state-of-the-art Boeing 787-8 is highly automated, with human pilots making only key decisions - but human error cannot be ruled out. Co-pilot Clive Kundar had more than 1,000 hours of flying experience and made the mayday call but Captain Sumeet Sabharwa at the helm had 8,000 hours - making him one of Air India's most experienced pilots. Sabharwa was also a trained instructor, meaning he had a deep understanding of flying protocol. Estimates suggest the amount of runway utilised by the pilots was less than 2,000 metres - when a full plane on a hot day usually needs a run of 2,500 metres. Additionally, since the wing flaps are also set by the pilots before takeoff, with multiple checklists and procedures in place to ensure that they are positioned correctly, that could also be another source of human error. Heat 12 Smoke billows from the crash site, with temperatures hitting 40C on the day Credit: X Planes get less lift on a hot day due to lower air density, and therefore they need to go faster to get as much lift as on a cooler day. Flight AI171 took off in sweltering 40°C heat in the early afternoon sunshine. The plane may have struggled to gain lift if it took off after a short runway take-off. In his emergency mayday call, co-pilot Clive Kundar says "No thrust, losing power, unable to lift." Technical Error 12 One of Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners taking off at London Heathrow Airport Credit: Alamy Catastrophic technical or engineering issues have not been ruled out. The jet's complex design mean it could take months for a design or engineering fault to be pinpointed. The Dreamliner has a spotless safety record - this is the first time the model has crashed since its introduction in 2011. However, airlines using the Boeing plane have reported numerous issues with the engines, including a mid-air dive on a LATAM Airlines flight last yeear. During hearings in Washington last year, a former Boeing engineer turned whistleblower urged the aerospace giant to ground all Dreamliners. However, the aircraft manufacturer rejected the claims and said it had full confidence in the 787. Overloading 12 People online have also speculated that the plane may have been over burdened Credit: Ray Collins The aircraft could also have been too heavy to take-off. Danger of overloading could be increased - again - by adverse wather conditions caused by extreme heat. But the weight of aircraft is usually carefully checked ahead of take-off and the theory is thought unlikely. 12 Securit personnel guard the crash site as night falls Credit: Reuters
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
What caused the Air India plane disaster? Six main theories emerge – from mystery over landing gear to 40C weather
WHILE the exact cause of the horrific Air India crash is not yet known, speculation continues to swirl online. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 242 passengers on board - and 11 children - smashed into a doctors' hostel in the west of India on Thursday. Advertisement 12 A fire officer stands next to the crashed Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft Credit: Reuters 12 The Air India plane crashed into a medical college campus creating a huge fireball Credit: x/nchorAnandN 12 The plane's tail can be seen sticking out of a building following the crash Credit: AP 12 People sift through the debris of Air India flight AI171 as they search for survivors Credit: Alamy The plane was heading to London Gatwick when it . One of Flight AI171's two "black boxes" has reportedly been recovered - which should provide crucial evidence on the fatal five minutes between the plane's takeoff and impact. Follow our live blog The black box will provide technical information on details like time, airspeed, altitude and hearing. Advertisement Read more on World News And the cockpit voice recorder may also offer vital clues such as any conversation between the two pilots, any engine noises or bangs, stall warnings or sounds of other equipment. The crash killed at least 265 people - including those on board and locals on the ground. As crash investigators begin to pour over that data, The Sun looks at six main theories as potential causes for India's worst ever aviation disaster. Bird strikes 12 Aviation experts believe the aircraft's engines could have been struck by birds Credit: X Advertisement A bird strike could have taken out both of the jet's General Electric engines. Most read in The Sun Exclusive Latest Exclusive While a bird taking down something the size of a commercial airliner might sound fanciful, there are numerous examples. Most famous was US Airways Flight 1549, which suffered double engine failure in 2009 after being hit by a flock of Canada geese shortly after taking off from New York's LaGuardia Airport. The plane, captained by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson river - earning the tagline the "Miracle on the Hudson" since there were zero casualities. Advertisement Ahmedabad Airport is known to have a large avian population - a study in 2018 found the airport has 'a high potential of bird-aircraft collision hazards'. Captain C S Randhawa, who has flown a Boeing 777 for 15 years, and was the former Deputy Chief Flight Inspector, Operations, at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said a bird strike was "the most probable' cause of the crash. "Both Ahmedabad and Agra airports are full of birds. Incidents of aircraft being hit by birds keep happening on and off," he told The New Indian Express. Aviation safety consultant and instructor Captain Mohan Ranganathan told the same publication: "Bird hit appears to be the reason as of now. Advertisement "Ahmedabad airport has a history of a huge bird population. I flagged this issue 17 years ago and have written extensively about it too." Brit survivor WALKS AWAY unscathed from Air India plane crash after jumping from flaming jet Captain Ranganathan claims that the birds are drawn to the slaughterhouses near the airport He added: 'The reason for such a huge presence is due to slaughterhouses in the vicinity of airports which should never have been allowed. "They are never relocated by the authorities because they are owned by politicians or their relatives.' Advertisement In January 2021, an identical plane to the one involved in Thursday's crash aborted a take-off in Mexico after birds flew into one of its engines. Wing Flap Position 12 CCTV footage shows the doomed Air India Dreamliner taking off in Ahmedabad Credit: ViralPress Aviation experts have suggested that the position of the aircraft's wing flaps could have played a role in the disaster. Video evidence suggests the flaps were fully retracted, which would have provided minimal lift. Advertisement The aircraft's landing gear also remained deployed throughout which would have increased potentially fatal drag. One theory is that the landing gear was stuck and pilots retracted the flaps to reduce drag or that the flaps were faulty and caused the plane to stall. Aviation expert Terry Tozer, author of Confessions of an Airline Pilot, told the BBC: "It's very hard to say from the video for sure, it doesn't look as if the flaps are extended and that would be a perfectly obvious explanation for an aircraft not completing its take-off correctly." Marco Chan, a former pilot and a senior lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University, said: "That would point to potential human error if flaps aren't set correctly, but the resolution of the video is too low to confirm that." Advertisement Pilot error 12 The plane's captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who had 8,200 hours of flying experience The state-of-the-art Boeing 787-8 is highly automated, with human pilots making only key decisions - but human error cannot be ruled out. Co-pilot Clive Kundar had more than 1,000 hours of flying experience and made the mayday call but Captain Sumeet Sabharwa at the helm had 8,000 hours - making him one of Air India's most experienced pilots. Sabharwa was also a trained instructor, meaning he had a deep understanding of flying protocol. Advertisement Estimates suggest the amount of runway utilised by the pilots was less than 2,000 metres - when a full plane on a hot day usually needs a run of 2,500 metres. Additionally, since the wing flaps are also set by the pilots before takeoff, with multiple checklists and procedures in place to ensure that they are positioned correctly, that could also be another source of human error. Heat 12 Smoke billows from the crash site, with temperatures hitting 40C on the day Credit: X Planes get less lift on a hot day due to lower air density, and therefore they need to go faster to get as much lift as on a cooler day. Advertisement Flight AI171 took off in sweltering 40°C heat in the early afternoon sunshine. The plane may have struggled to gain lift if it took off after a short runway take-off. In his emergency mayday call, co-pilot Clive Kundar says "No thrust, losing power, unable to lift." Technical Error 12 One of Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners taking off at London Heathrow Airport Credit: Alamy Advertisement Catastrophic technical or engineering issues have not been ruled out. The jet's complex design mean it could take months for a design or engineering fault to be pinpointed. The Dreamliner has a spotless safety record - this is the first time the model has crashed since its introduction in 2011. However, airlines using the Boeing plane have reported numerous issues with the engines, including a mid-air dive on a LATAM Airlines flight last yeear. Advertisement During hearings in Washington last year, a former Boeing engineer turned whistleblower urged the aerospace giant to ground all Dreamliners. However, the aircraft manufacturer rejected the claims and said it had full confidence in the 787. Overloading 12 People online have also speculated that the plane may have been over burdened Credit: Ray Collins The aircraft could also have been too heavy to take-off. Advertisement Danger of overloading could be increased - again - by adverse wather conditions caused by extreme heat. But the weight of aircraft is usually carefully checked ahead of take-off and the theory is thought unlikely. 12 Securit personnel guard the crash site as night falls Credit: Reuters 12 Security personnel stand next to the wreckage of a part of the Air India aircraft Credit: Reuters Advertisement
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A London-bound flight diverted to Boston after a possible bird strike and fumes in the cabin
A British Airways diverted to Boston after the crew reported a bird strike on Saturday. The crew also reported fumes in the cabin, the FAA said.. Bird strikes are risky, with 19,400 incidents at US airports in 2023. Passengers expecting to cross the Atlantic Ocean only made it as far as Boston after it diverted a possible bird strike and fumes in the cabin. Saturday's British Airways Flight 216 took off from Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC, for London. While ascending, the Boeing 777 appeared to hit a bird, and the crew reported fumes in the cabin. Data from Flightradar24 shows that the plane was only in the air for an hour as it followed the US's eastern coastline north to Massachusetts. The flight from Washington to London typically takes up to seven hours. "British Airways Flight 216 landed safely at Boston Logan International Airport around 7:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, April 26, after the crew reported a possible bird strike and fumes in the cabin," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. The agency added that it would investigate the incident. G-STBD, the aircraft involved in the incident, took off from Boston on Sunday night, around 27 hours after landing. It landed in London at around 10 a.m. local time on Monday. A British Airways spokesperson told BI: "The flight landed safely after diverting to Boston as a precaution following a suspected bird strike. We are sorry for the delay to our customers' travel plans, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority." Bird strikes pose a great risk to flights. The best-known example is "Miracle on the Hudson" in 2009, when Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger landed an Airbus A320 on the Hudson River after a bird strike knocked out both engines. Last November, a Flair Airlines plane also encountered a flock of geese, shattering its windshield and leaving glass in the cockpit. Flight-tracking data showed the plane, registered as C-FLKO, flew to Pinal Airpark — a storage, maintenance, and repair facility in Arizona. There were 19,400 wildlife strikes at 713 US airports in 2023, per the FAA. Each year, bird strikes cost US airlines an estimated $1.2 billion, much of which results from knock-on effects on flight schedules. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
28-04-2025
- General
- Business Insider
A London-bound flight diverted to Boston after a possible bird strike and fumes in the cabin
Passengers expecting to cross the Atlantic Ocean only made it as far as Boston after it diverted a possible bird strike and fumes in the cabin. Saturday's British Airways Flight 216 took off from Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC, for London. While ascending, the Boeing 777 appeared to hit a bird, and the crew reported fumes in the cabin. Data from Flightradar24 shows that the plane was only in the air for an hour as it followed the US's eastern coastline north to Massachusetts. The flight from Washington to London typically takes up to seven hours. "British Airways Flight 216 landed safely at Boston Logan International Airport around 7:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, April 26, after the crew reported a possible bird strike and fumes in the cabin," the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. The agency added that it would investigate the incident. G-STBD, the aircraft involved in the incident, took off from Boston on Sunday night, around 27 hours after landing. It landed in London at around 10 a.m. local time on Monday. A British Airways spokesperson told BI: "The flight landed safely after diverting to Boston as a precaution following a suspected bird strike. We are sorry for the delay to our customers' travel plans, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority." Bird strikes pose a great risk to flights. The best-known example is " Miracle on the Hudson" in 2009, when Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger landed an Airbus A320 on the Hudson River after a bird strike knocked out both engines. Last November, a Flair Airlines plane also encountered a flock of geese, shattering its windshield and leaving glass in the cockpit. Flight-tracking data showed the plane, registered as C-FLKO, flew to Pinal Airpark — a storage, maintenance, and repair facility in Arizona. There were 19,400 wildlife strikes at 713 US airports in 2023, per the FAA. Each year, bird strikes cost US airlines an estimated $1.2 billion, much of which results from knock-on effects on flight schedules.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hero pilot Captain Sully Sullenberger weighs in on DC American Airlines crash
Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot who famously landed a commercial airline on the Hudson River over a decade ago, has weighed in on the disastrous DC plane crash. On Wednesday night, an American Airlines regional jet was on the final approach to Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., when it collided midair with a military Black Hawk helicopter shortly before 9 p.m. ET, before plunging into the Potomac River claiming the lives of 67 people. 'We've had to learn important lessons literally with blood too often, and we had finally gotten beyond that, to where we could learn from incidents and not accidents,' Captain Sullenberger told The New York Times in an interview. While the crash came at an 'exceptionally safe' moment in aviation history, it showed 'how vigilant we have to be', he told the newspaper. Captain Sully, 74, was deemed a hero when he successfully landed a doomed Airbus A320 flight into New York's Hudson River on 15 January 2009, after the plane struck a flock of Canada geese at an altitude of 2,818 feet, causing both engines to ignite into flames and shut down – all 155 people on board the plane survived. 'Nighttime always makes things different about seeing other aircraft – basically all you can do is see the lights on them,' he continued. 'You have to try to figure out: Are they above you or below you? Or how far away? Or which direction are they headed? Everything is harder at night.' Emergency crews waded through the frigid waters of the Potomac River overnight after officials announced Thursday they were shifting from a rescue to a recovery mission – 40 bodies have been recovered so far. Preliminary data from the American Eagle flight shows that the plane had been on course with its usual route from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington D.C. The helicopter crew whose BlackHawk struck the passenger jet were 'fairly experienced,' said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Thursday and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the incident had been 'preventable', as it had been a perfectly clear night. Sully said the aviation industry was largely unchanged since he made the monumental landing in 2009, stating: 'Of course, we've added technology to it. But a lot of the technology is old.' The captain insisted however that a descent over water and at night are two factors that most certainly would have made avoiding the helicopter more difficult as there are 'fewer ground lights visible over the water than over land at night', he added. In Thursday's press conference, and when questioned by a reporter on whether the plane was aware of the helicopter in the air, Secretary Duffy took a long pause and said: 'I would say, the helicopter was aware there was a plane in the area.' As an investigation continues, and families are being informed of their loved ones who perished in the crash, officials are frantically scrambling to examine the two 'black boxes' recovered from the two wreckages.
