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Indian Express
21-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
A former Pilot on Air India crash report: Foreign media are misleading the public. Wait for the final report
Written by Minoo Wadia The people of India have a right to know the truth about what happened to Air India Flight 171. The anxiety and confusion among the public following the release of the preliminary report a few days ago are, therefore, understandable. However, it is equally important to remember that the Air India crash report is exactly what it claims to be: Preliminary. Its primary purpose is to establish what happened. The why and how will be addressed in the final report, which is typically released about a year after the incident. While the public's demand for answers is entirely justified, patience remains essential. There is a rush in certain quarters to blame the pilots. Why should it come as a surprise that blame is already being directed at them? Within just two days of the crash, self-proclaimed aviation 'experts' flooded YouTube — some even donning captain's uniforms — offering detailed theories about the crash without any proximity to the site or access to verifiable information. Unsurprisingly, many of these theories centred on pilot error. Yes, pilots — like doctors, engineers, or any other professional — are human beings and capable of mistakes. In this case, however, foreign media have jumped the gun. Some agencies have highlighted a section of the report that refers to an exchange between the pilots about the 'cut-off'. But this is a normal inquiry by a pilot in a situation where, during take-off, power fails to build, and there is insufficient thrust. Moreover, all pilots are trained that, in the event of a total engine failure, the correct procedure involves switching the engine off and attempting a restart. According to the report, the pilots attempted exactly that and almost succeeded. There was a relight on one engine. However, by that time, the aircraft was at too low an altitude, which led to it crashing into buildings. It was already too late. The real question is: Why did both engines fail? The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) should provide those answers. It is entirely possible for engines to fail without pilot intervention. Modern aircraft rely on computers to calculate fuel flow and engine performance. It is not impossible for the system to malfunction — perhaps due to incorrect fuel ratio calculations — leading to engine failure. These systems are built with safeguards, but like any complex software, they are not infallible. Remember the case of ANA Flight NH985 from Tokyo Haneda to Osaka Itami, which suffered dual engine failure upon landing? Western investigative agencies often default to blaming the pilots, and similar stories are likely to emerge in the coming weeks. There is no doubt that the preliminary Air India crash report could have offered more clarity; for instance, it would have been helpful if the details from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) had been made public. I have worked extensively with CVRs and DFDRs, and I know that while data retrieval is one task, proper interpretation is quite another. It takes a team of trained specialists to extract meaning: What time thrust was applied, whether the engine spooled up, how much fuel was injected — every detail can be examined. Interpretation, however, takes time. This is why we must be patient and allow the final Air India crash report to tell the full story. In the meantime, we must continue to ask the right questions. Having worked with both Boeing and Airbus, including with their production test pilots, I can say with confidence that these professionals are deeply committed to safety. That said, no system is perfect. There is always scope for improvement — and yes, for error. But that's no reason to mislead the public. This is precisely why pilot federations are coming out strongly in defence of the crew, not simply out of solidarity, but because the facts are being selectively interpreted to sensationalise and unfairly suggest pilot error. One such federation is reportedly considering legal action against The Wall Street Journal for its coverage of the crash. When I transitioned from the Air Force to civil aviation, I was shocked to discover that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had no aviators on its rolls. There may well be brilliant bureaucrats at the helm, but is it too much to ask for a single technical aviation expert? Similarly, there should be certified Boeing 787 pilots on the investigating team. This is one of the key things the Indian aviation ecosystem must urgently address — ensuring that technical expertise is not sidelined. The writer is the founder of the Federation of Indian Pilots and a former Air Force and Air India pilot
India.com
08-07-2025
- India.com
AAIB Submits Preliminary Report On Air India Plane Crash
New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has submitted its preliminary report on the Air India 171 crash to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other relevant authorities. This report, based on initial assessments and early findings, is expected to be made public later this week, reported IANS, citing top government officials. The London-bound Air India flight AI171 crashed into a medical college hostel just seconds after take-off from the Ahmedabad airport on June 12. As many as 241 people on board the plane and 19 on the ground were killed in the tragic crash. One passenger had miraculously survived the deadly crash. A combined unit of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was recovered from the crash site on June 13, and another set was found on June 16. This model of aircraft has two black box sets. A multi-disciplinary team from AAIB commenced an investigation into the crash on June 12 itself. The investigation was ordered by the DG, AAIB. US NTSB and OEM teams also arrived to assist the AAIB as per ICAO protocols. The investigators are reported to have looked into whether a dual-engine failure would have resulted in the crash. The investigation is being led by AAIB officials and includes technical experts from the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which represents the country where the aircraft was designed and manufactured. The probe is being overseen by the Director General of the AAIB. The investigation team also includes an aviation medicine specialist and an Air Traffic Control officer. The NTSB team also worked closely with Indian authorities at the AAIB Lab. Representatives from Boeing and engine-maker GE also participated in the technical analysis. Previously, black boxes from Indian aircraft accidents were typically sent abroad for decoding to facilities in countries such as the UK, the US, France, Italy, Canada, and Russia. India lacked the infrastructure to analyse black box data from major crashes domestically. However, with the establishment of a fully equipped AAIB Lab in Delhi, India now has the capability to decode both cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders within the country itself.
Hans India
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hans India
Dreamliner crash exposes India's aviation weak links
India's aviation ambitions are also being undermined by inadequate Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) infrastructure — especially for wide-body aircraft. The Black Box—comprising the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) — of Air India Flight 171 was recovered on June 13, a day after the crash. The device has suffered extensive damage, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) lab at Udaan Bhawan, Delhi, will work on retrieving the information. The lab, billed as a ₹9-crore 'state-of-the-art' facility, was inaugurated just two months ago. If it fails to retrieve the data, the Black Box may be sent to the United States for decoding. While major players like Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), GMR Aero Technic, and Tata Advanced Systems have a strong presence in the MRO space, most of their expertise is centered on narrow-body aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. There is a serious shortage of facilities equipped to handle wide-body aircraft and the latest generation of engines. In addition, many existing MROs need major upgrades to meet international standards. Industry insiders also point to a lack of skilled engineers and high import duties on essential spare parts. Indian carriers continue to rely heavily on foreign facilities for major repairs — delaying turnarounds and raising costs. Airframe & Wing Parts: Firms like Aequs, Dynamatic Technologies, Gardner, and Mahindra Aerospace supply parts for the Airbus A320neo, A330neo, and A350 programs. Cargo doors: Tata Advanced Systems manufactures cargo and bulk cargo doors for the A320neo. Rear Fuselage: Dynamatic Technologies has tied up with Deutsche Aircraft to produce the rear fuselage for the D328eco regional turboprop. Helicopter Fuselages: Tata (in partnership with Boeing) is making fuselages for Apache helicopters, while Mahindra Aerostructures is building those for Airbus' H130. Composite Parts: Boeing sources high-end composite parts from its Bengaluru facility to support its global supply chain. India's aircraft components market touched $16.22 billion in 2024 and is projected to nearly double by 2033, propelled by localisation drives, policy support, and growing global partnerships. Over $2 billion worth of components are exported annually to global giants like Airbus and Boeing—thanks to Indian MSMEs and aerospace start-ups. The Dreamliner crash has jolted India's aviation sector out of its comfort zone. As the country aims for the skies, it must further strengthen the ground it takes off from. India Moves Towards Defence Self-Reliance, Cuts Imports, Boosts Exports Traditionally heavily reliant on foreign suppliers for defence equipment, India has significantly reduced its dependence on defence imports over the last 14 years, marking a major shift in its defence strategy and policy.
Hindustan Times
22-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Wreckage of Air India flightmoved for further analysis
The Gujarat Police has started shifting the wreckage of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad on June 12 to a site near the city's airport, where investigators will attempt to piece the debris back together for analysis. A truck carrying wreckage of the Air India plane that recently crashed into a medical hostel and its canteen complex passes by, in Ahmedabad, on Sunday. (PTI) 'The pieces are being moved from the crash site. Some were relocated on Saturday, and the work continued on Sunday. Every piece of wreckage is being transported from the crash site to a new location for reconstruction,' said Ahmedabad police commissioner GS Malik. Officials aware of the matter said it would take between 48 and 72 hours to move the entire wreckage of the nearly 120-tonne aircraft, which plunged into the BJ Medical College hostel 33 seconds after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, killing all but one of its 242 passengers and crew and at least 30 people on the ground. Also Read | DGCA introduces special audits after Air India crash HT had reported on June 20 that the debris are being moved to a site near the Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Company Limited (GUJSAIL) office near the airport, on land owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which has been identified for use in the ongoing investigation. 'Reconstructed parts of the aircraft will be examined to determine what led to the crash. The black box will be analysed as part of this process,' Malik said. Also Read | Ahmedabad crash victim's mortal remains reach Manipur, thousands pay tributes India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the crash, while the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading a parallel international investigation into the plane crash. At least 247 persons killed in the crash have so far been identified through DNA matching and 232 bodies handed over to their families, as per officials. Both sets of flight recorders from the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner have been recovered - the first combined Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) unit was found on June 13, with the second set located on June 16. The B787 aircraft model carries two black box sets – one under the cockpit and the other in the tail section -- as standard. The debris removal and transportation process typically involves careful cataloguing and preservation of aircraft components that could provide crucial evidence about the crash sequence. Investigators must maintain a strict chain of custody for all materials, with larger structural components often moved to specialised facilities where they can be reconstructed to understand the aircraft's final moments. Critical components like engines and control surfaces undergo detailed metallurgical and mechanical analysis to identify any failures or anomalies that may have contributed to the accident.
NDTV
20-06-2025
- General
- NDTV
Exclusive: How Air India Flight's Black Box Was Damaged And What Comes Next
New Delhi: The black box units from the wreckage of Air India Flight AI-171, which crashed 36 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 274 people, including 33 on the ground, have sustained damage. According to aviation sources speaking to NDTV, one of the black boxes is visibly more damaged than the other, likely due to a fall during or after the crash. Both the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), collectively referred to as the "black boxes", are currently in secure custody under the supervision of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Sources involved in the crash investigation told NDTV that a preliminary inspection shows external structural compromise, which, if not handled delicately, could risk internal data integrity. What We Know 1. Two black box units have been recovered - one unit is more damaged than the other. 2. A decision on what to do with the black boxes will be taken soon. 3. Options under consideration: The black boxes may be sent to a HAL facility near Lucknow, the NTSB in the United States, the Civil Aviation Authority in the United Kingdom, or to Singapore. 4. One of the black boxes has sustained damage to its outer surface. This damage occurred as a result of a fall. 5. The data on both the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is stored in binary format. This data must be converted into an engineering format, after which information will become accessible. The interpretation of this data will form the basis of the crash report. 6. It remains unclear whether a preliminary report or a final report will be issued. 7. Investigators are concerned about opening the damaged black box due to the condition of its outer casing. 8. It is possible that data from the second, undamaged unit can be retrieved within India. 9. India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has stepped up randomised surveillance of relevant flights during the interim period. 10. The investigation will include analysis of debris samples and material samples from the surface of the runway. 11. Sabotage also needs to be ruled out. 12. Sources on the crash of AI-171 stated: "This is a mystery." What Is A Black Box The black box from the doomed Air India flight was recovered Monday, 28 hours after the crash. The 'black boxes' are actually bright orange in colour to help locate them from debris and wreckage. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) captures up to 25 hours of cockpit conversations, noise, radio calls with air traffic control, and audible alerts in newer aircraft models. However, AI-171 was operating a Boeing 787 delivered in 2014, prior to the 2021 mandate for 25-hour CVR storage. Therefore, the recorder likely had a two-hour recording capacity. The Flight Data Recorder (FDR), on the other hand, collects parameters such as altitude, airspeed, heading, vertical acceleration, and control surface movements, among others. In modern jets like the 787-8, FDRs can record thousands of parameters simultaneously and loop for over 25 hours. The Crash And Its Aftermath The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered VT-ANB, lifted off at 1:39 PM on June 12 from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, en route to London Gatwick. Less than a minute into the flight, the pilots transmitted a distress call citing loss of thrust. Radio contact was subsequently lost. Seconds later, the aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a residential area near Meghani Nagar, adjacent to the airport's northeast perimeter. It ignited a blaze on impact, damaging a medical college hostel and killing 33 people on the ground. The sole survivor, seated in 11A, is a British-Indian man who was thrown clear of the wreckage.
