Aircraft Accident with Most Fatalities for British Citizens Since the 9/11 Aviation Tragedies
Revamped Report:
The Grim Aftermath:
The latest Air India crash has shattered records for the most British citizens lost in a flight disaster since the 9/11 attacks. With 52 Brits reported missing, feared to have perished, it's a grim reminder of the horror that unfolded years ago.
A total of 67 Brits were killed in the 9/11 attacks in 2001 on New York's World Trade Centre, making the toll higher. But the last major UK air disaster occurred in January 1989, when a Boeing 737 attempting an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport crashed on an embankment of the M1 near Kegworth, Leics, resulting in 47 lives lost.
Unfortunately, history seems to be repeating itself, with past mishaps such as the 1985 British Airtours Boeing 737 fire on the runway at Manchester Airport that claimed 55 lives, and the 1972 Staines Air Disaster, with a powerful BEA flight crashing on takeoff from Heathrow, taking the lives of all 118 on board.
DELVE DEEPER INTO THE AIR INDIA CRASH
THE FINAL SNAPSHOT ### Capturing the Moment: Couple's Last Selfie Taken Moments Before Takeoff on Fateful Air India JetPRELUDE TO CALAMITY ### Eyewitness Accounts: Hours Before Tragedy - 'Nothing' on Board Worked
Ominously echoing past events, the Lockerbie terror attack in 1988 killed 43 British citizens, including 11 on the ground in the Scottish border town.
As we await the findings of the ongoing investigation, theories abound about the possible explanations for the disaster. These range from pilot error, a bird or drone strike, to a sudden change in wind direction causing a double-engine stall.
Concerns regarding pilot error revolve around Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who may have mishandled the Dreamliner's descent, as a video suggests the wing flaps retracted too early, reducing lift and increasing drag.
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Critical to flight safety, pilots and experts stress the need for wing flaps to be set to the correct position at takeoff to generate maximum lift, and the undercarriage to be quickly lifted once airborne to lessen resistance.
However, footage of the crash jet shows its wheels were still down as it started descending, adding to speculation about the wing flaps' position. A bird strike is also possible, although not apparent in the available footage.
BIRD STROKES OF LUCK ### Weather Conditions Were Favorable, Yet a Twist of Fate
Although temperatures hovered close to 40C (104F) during the takeoff, the air was relatively calm, which negated the risk of any sudden gusts. A technical fault seems the only other plausible cause behind the tragedy.
A passenger who claimed to have been on the doomed plane earlier that day shared a video alleging various issues on board, such as malfunctioning air conditioning, TV screens, and lights. Though such issues are not normally indicative of a dire situation, they cannot be completely disregarded as a contributing factor.
Since its launch in 2011, the Boeing Dreamliner has experienced a practically unblemished safety record with no fatal accidents reported. But in the face of the recent mishap, teams of Boeing experts are working tirelessly to unveil potential safety concerns and safeguard the company's reputation that's been marred by controversy in recent years.
With over 1,100 787s currently in service, the model has gained popularity among international airlines for its fuel efficiency and low noise levels[1]. Investigators from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are on-site, locating the jet's black boxes which could shed crucial insight into the disaster[3].
Four Possible Scenarios
- Wing Flaps Mispositioned: The retracted flaps causing minimal lift and increased drag are a primary theory, with concerns that the landing gear may have been stuck or that the flaps yielded a fault, resulting in a stall[5].
- Aviary Attack: A bird strike incapacitating both engines is another possibility, though not evident in the available footage[6].
- Piloting Mistake: Though highly automated, human error cannot be ruled out, especially considering pilots must handle key decisions[6].
- Inadequate Runway Usage: A decreased lift due to lower air density on hot days might necessitate a faster takeoff speed and a longer runway, but this incident reportedly used under 2,000m when a full plane requires approximately 2,500m on a hot day[6].
The Conundrum
Lt Col John R Davidson, a former US Air Force pilot and commercial aviation safety consultant, discusses the range of scenarios: " Weather, wind shear, bird strike, or even engine failure can't be eliminated at this juncture. There are numerous possible explanations - such as thrust or engine performance issues, excessive aircraft weight, faulty flap configuration, or a more critical failure that affected the aircraft's ability to climb."[6] Saurabh Bhatnagar, a former senior pilot, suggests that the plane's descent might have been caused by a multiple-bird strike, resulting in both engines losing power and the aircraft failing to gain lift[6].
As the investigation progresses, many questions continue to surface, and we can only hope that the truth behind this calamity will soon be revealed. In the interim, our thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected.
[1]https://www.boeing.com/commercial/787family-overview/[2]Temperature information taken from https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/weather/aircraft-forecasting/ahmedabad[3]https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/govt-accepts-uk-teams-aid-for-air-crash-probe/articleshow/90133106.cms[4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_India_Express_Flight_1344[5]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIDYdD7mUkI&feature=emb_logo[6]https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/air-india-flight-171-pilot-mayday/amp/
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In the heightened political deliberations and general news discourse, the Air India crash has become a topic of concern in the realm of crime and justice, raising questions about potential safety flaws in aircraft operations. Additionally, recent accidents have highlighted the need for greater oversight and potentially stricter regulations within the aviation industry, as history sadly seems to repeat itself with every air disaster.
