Latest news with #SaurabhBhatnagar
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
Experts conflicted of what may have caused deadly Air India plane crash
Aviation experts are conflicted on what may have caused the deadly Air India plane crash. The Boeing 787, bound for London, crashed with 242 people on board shortly after departing from Ahmedabad airport in the western Indian state of Gujarat on Thursday. Saurabh Bhatnagar told New Delhi Television that the incident appears to have involved "multiple bird hits". He said: "It looks, prima facie, like a case of multiple bird hits wherein both the engines have lost power." Mr Bhatnagar added that the "take-off was perfect" but shortly before retracting the landing gear, the aircraft began to descend. He believes this indicates a loss of engine power or lift. "Obviously, the investigation will reveal the exact reason," he added. Mr Bhatnagar noted that video of the incident indicates the plane "came down in a controlled fashion". Bird strikes are defined as a collision between a bird and an aircraft which is in flight, taking-off or landing. A large flock of birds entering an aircraft engine can cause power loss. Efforts to reduce the number of bird strikes on planes include using lights on aircraft to make them more visible to birds, and making loud noises at airports to scare them away. However another aviation expert told The Independent that bird strikes are unlikely to have caused the crash. Richard Curran, professor of sustainable aviation at City, University of London, said: 'If there was a problem with an engine, the pilots would know that immediately on takeoff. So they wouldn't have got as far as they did, and they would have they would have changed their path. 'I don't think there's any sort of credibility in [the bird strike suggestion] unless the effect of it took time. You don't really get multiple bird strikes and if they had, [the pilots] would have said that, and they didn't.' Prof Curran, who was previously KLM's chair of engineering and maintenance, said: 'These these pilots are extremely well trained. They're trained for bird strike. It's one of the basic things that you go through in simulator training as a pilot. Probably every 60 to 100 flight hours, you go into the simulator and you're put through these things. So they know very, very well how to deal with it. 'And because that wasn't translated, I think it was something more to do with the engine or the control system in the aircraft.' Latest Civil Aviation Authority figures show there were 1,432 incidents reported in the UK in 2022. Professor John McDermid, of the University of York, said it was too early to know 'in any detail' what may have caused the Air India incident, but the timing suggests the issue happened 'very suddenly'. He said: 'Take-off and landing are the most dangerous phases of flight. 'However, that said, it's surprising that the accident occurred before the aircraft had even got to 200 metres altitude. 'Pilots can abort take-off until quite late in the take-off roll, so it seems like the problem occurred very suddenly in the final part of the take-off roll, or shortly after take-off, and was sufficiently serious to be unmanageable. 'Given the levels of redundancy in systems, the fact that aircraft are designed to climb out on only one engine, etc. on initial sight this seems a very surprising accident.' Professor McDermid added it is 'very unlikely' the plane was overweight or carrying too much fuel as 'there are careful checks on this'. Graham Braithwaite, the director of aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, said take-off is a 'critical stage of flight' as the plane is accelerating and 'any problem-solving requires a rapid response'. Paul Williams, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading, said the weather conditions at the airport when the crash happened 'appear to have been very good'. He added: 'It was a dry and sunny day in Ahmedabad, with temperatures near 40C. 'There was good visibility and light winds from the west. 'There was no bad weather in the vicinity. 'There is no indication at this stage that turbulence or other weather conditions were a factor in the crash.' The accident will be investigated by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
NDTV
2 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Lack Of Lift, Pilots Yanking Yoke: What May Have Happened In Plane's Cockpit
New Delhi: Air India flight AI-171, from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after take-off, having achieved a height of just 672 feet, and NDTV has - based on expert testimony - pieced together what may have happened in the last few seconds in the cockpit. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had 242 people on board - 230 passengers, 10 crew members and two pilots - and crashed at 1.38 pm, shortly after take-off from the Ahmedabad airport. Videos show the plane struggling to gain altitude before it begins losing lift (upward force that allows an aircraft to stay airborne) and crashes, exploding in a ball of fire. Based on an analysis of the video, experts said the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a model that had an immaculate safety record, took off from the runway at Ahmedabad and experienced meagre thrust soon after. The pilots, experts said, would have been yanking the yoke at this time in an attempt to gain lift and altitude, and the video shows that the plane's landing gear was also down. A Mayday call was issued after take-off, indicating the aircraft was in distress. Experts said that as the lift decayed, the pilots must have attempted to pull the nose of the plane up, but it kept descending. 174 knots, they added, was the maximum speed the aircraft could achieve, which should have been much higher, indicating that the engines were not generating enough power. "The take-off was perfect and just, I believe, short of taking the gear up, the aircraft started descending, which can happen only in case the engine loses power or the aircraft stops developing lift. Obviously, the investigation will reveal the exact reason." Captain Saurabh Bhatnagar, a former senior pilot, told NDTV. The plane had 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, a Canadian and 7 Portuguese on board. Air India has also set up a dedicated hotline number: 1800 5691 444. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is "stunned" by the tragedy and he is in touch with ministers and authorities. The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with Ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 12, 2025 The tragedy in Ahmedabad has stunned and saddened us. It is heartbreaking beyond words. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with everyone affected by it. Have been in touch with ministers and authorities who are working to assist those affected.
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- General
- Int'l Business Times
Horrifying Mayday Call From Pilot Reveals Why Air India Flight Crashed
A chilling 'Mayday' distress call from Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was transmitted to air traffic control just moments after Air India Flight AI171 took off from Ahmedabad at 1:39pm local time (9:09am BST) on Thursday, 12 June 2025. Seconds later, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plunged into a residential area near the airport, killing all 242 passengers and crew on board, along with several people on the ground. The final transmission, intercepted by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), cited 'engine failure' as the cause of distress. The ATC was reportedly unable to respond before the aircraft vanished from radar. The flight was en route to London Gatwick Airport. According to reports from major news outlets including BBC News , Reuters , and Al Jazeera , this marks the deadliest crash in Air India's modern history and the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Mayday Call Points to Engine Failure The pilot's final mayday call revealed the aircraft was experiencing 'engine failure' moments before the crash. As reported by The Express UK , the call was made in the final seconds before the aircraft rapidly descended into the Meghani Nagar residential district, triggering a fireball and widespread destruction on the ground. Captain Saurabh Bhatnagar, a retired senior Air India pilot, told NDTV that the incident appeared to be 'like a case of multiple bird hits wherein both the engines lost power'. 'The take-off was perfect and just, I believe, short of retracting the gear. The aircraft began descending, which typically happens when engine thrust is lost or lift is compromised,' Bhatnagar explained. Despite the pilot's efforts to maintain control, the aircraft crashed less than three minutes after departure. Boeing Responds to the Tragedy The ill-fated aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a model previously regarded for its safety record. In an official statement published on Boeing's media site, the manufacturer expressed its condolences: 'We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.' This comes amid mounting scrutiny of Boeing's safety practices following recent incidents involving its 737 MAX series, including a mid-air door blowout in early 2024. Air India Confirms International Fatalities Air India confirmed that the London-bound flight carried 247 people, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian. Al Jazeera reported that at least 204 passengers were confirmed dead at the crash site, with the remaining fatalities confirmed during hospitalisation. In a public statement, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Group (Air India's parent company), called the incident 'a tragic and devastating accident'. 'We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted,' he said. Air India has suspended all outbound operations from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport until further notice. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for updated flight schedules. Investigation Underway The crash investigation is being led by India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), with support from Boeing, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and international aviation experts. Authorities are examining the aircraft's flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which were recovered from the wreckage. A preliminary report is expected in the coming weeks, though a full investigation may take several months. If a technical or design flaw is identified, Boeing could face renewed regulatory scrutiny akin to the 737 MAX crisis, which resulted in prolonged groundings and criminal investigations. Public Hotline and Support Air India has launched a dedicated helpline at 1800 5691 444 for families and individuals seeking information. The airline has pledged full transparency and support as investigations continue. Originally published on IBTimes UK
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Bird strike may have caused Air India crash
Saurabh Bhatnagar told Indian news TV channel New Delhi Television LTD the incident appears to involve 'multiple bird hits'. He said: 'It looks, prima facie, like a case of multiple bird hits wherein both the engines have lost power. 'The take-off was perfect and just, I believe, short of taking the gear up, the aircraft started descending, which can happen only in case the engine loses power or the aircraft stops developing lift. 'Obviously, the investigation will reveal the exact reason.' He added that footage show the plane 'came down in a controlled fashion'. Bird strikes are defined as a collision between a bird and an aircraft which is in flight, taking-off or landing. A large flock of birds entering an aircraft engine can cause power loss. Efforts to reduce the number of bird strikes include using lights on planes to make them more visible to birds, and making loud noises at airports to scare them away. Latest Civil Aviation Authority figures show there were 1,432 incidents reported in the UK in 2022. Professor John McDermid, of the University of York, said it was too early to know 'in any detail' what may have caused the Air India incident, but the timing suggests the issue happened 'very suddenly'. He said: 'Take-off and landing are the most dangerous phases of flight. 'However, that said, it's surprising that the accident occurred before the aircraft had even got to 200 metres altitude. 'Pilots can abort take-off until quite late in the take-off roll, so it seems like the problem occurred very suddenly in the final part of the take-off roll, or shortly after take-off, and was sufficiently serious to be unmanageable. 'Given the levels of redundancy in systems, the fact that aircraft are designed to climb out on only one engine, etc. on initial sight this seems a very surprising accident.' (PA Graphics) Professor McDermid added it is 'very unlikely' the plane was overweight or carrying too much fuel as 'there are careful checks on this'. Graham Braithwaite, director of aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, said take-off is a 'critical stage of flight' as the plane is accelerating and 'any problem-solving requires a rapid response'. Paul Williams, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading, said the weather conditions at the airport when the crash happened 'appear to have been very good'. He added: 'It was a dry and sunny day in Ahmedabad, with temperatures near 40C. 'There was good visibility and light winds from the west. 'There was no bad weather in the vicinity. 'There is no indication at this stage that turbulence or other weather conditions were a factor in the crash.' The accident will be investigated by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch is also likely to be involved because of the number of British nationals onboard.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Science
- Daily Record
Expert suggests bird strike as potential cause of Air India crash as casualties increase
A former pilot in India has suggested that a bird strike may have caused the Air India plane crash that saw many people die after the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner struck the BJ Medical College A former pilot has suggested that the Air India plane crash might have been caused by a bird strike. Speaking with Indian news TV channel New Delhi Television LTD, Saurabh Bhatnagar described the incident as appearing to involve "multiple bird hits". He commented: "It looks, prima facie, like a case of multiple bird hits wherein both the engines have lost power." Bhatnagar continued to explain that the aircraft seemed to have had a perfect take-off but began descending just short of retracting its landing gear, which usually indicates a loss of engine power or the aircraft ceasing to develop lift. He affirmed: "Obviously, the investigation will reveal the exact reason." Moreover, added observation from Bhatnagar noted that the footage suggests the plane"came down in a controlled fashion". Bird strikes are characterised as collisions between a bird and an aircraft either in flight, taking off or landing. When a large flock of birds enters an aircraft engine, it can result in a loss of power. Measures to mitigate bird strikes include employing lights on planes for increased visibility to birds and utilising loud noises at airports to ward them off. The latest Civil Aviation Authority statistics indicate there were 1,432 bird strike incidents reported in the UK in 2022. Professor John McDermid, from the University of York, said that it is premature to know "in any detail" what might have triggered the Air India incident — although he pointed out that the timing implies the issue arose "very suddenly". He stated: "Take-off and landing are the most dangerous phases of flight. "However, that said, it's surprising that the accident occurred before the aircraft had even got to 200 metres altitude. Pilots can abort take-off until quite late in the take-off roll, so it seems like the problem occurred very suddenly in the final part of the take-off roll, or shortly after take-off, and was sufficiently serious to be unmanageable. "Given the levels of redundancy in systems, the fact that aircraft are designed to climb out on only one engine, etc. on initial sight this seems a very surprising accident." According to the Press Association, Professor McDermid remarked it is "very unlikely" the plane was overweight or carrying too much fuel as "there are careful checks on this". Graham Braithwaite, an expert in aerospace and aviation at Cranfield University in Bedfordshire, highlighted that take-off is a "critical stage of flight" where the aircraft is gaining speed and "any problem-solving requires a rapid response". Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading, noted that the weather conditions at the airport during the crash "appear to have been very good". He elaborated: "It was a dry and sunny day in Ahmedabad, with temperatures near 40C. "There was good visibility and light winds from the west. There was no bad weather in the vicinity. There is no indication at this stage that turbulence or other weather conditions were a factor in the crash." The tragic incident will undergo a thorough investigation by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch is also likely to be involved due to the 53 British nationals onboard.
