Unraveling the Mystery: What Brings Down Flight AI171?
Aircraft AI171 encountering unforeseen circumstances
Over the bustling skies above Ahmedabad, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from Air India plummeted to the ground, tragically claiming the lives of the majority of its passengers. Speculations about the cause of this calamity are rampant, with aviation experts proposing several theories.
Sumeet Sabharwal, a seasoned pilot with 8,200 flight hours, was at the controls, accompanied by Clive Kunder, a first officer with 1,100 hours of experience. "Mayday, no thrust, loss of power, can't take off" – this is said to be the last transmission from Sabharwal, as reported by international media outlets [1]. But what truly transpired in those final moments?
The videos circulating online show the aircraft struggling to gain altitude shortly after takeoff, despite the nose being in the climb position [2]. One possibility put forth by experts is a bird strike. Saurabh Bhatnagar, a former pilot, and Salil Colge, professor of aviation management at the University College Birmingham, both believe this scenario to be plausible, given the history of bird strikes in the area [2]. However, there's a noticeable discrepancy – the footage indicates no obvious trail of smoke, a potential indication of engine damage [3].
John McDermid, a software technology professor at the University of York, raises concerns about the unusual path the plane took before crashing [4]. Terry Tozer, an ex-pilot and author, suggests a possible problem with the landing gear as a logical explanation for the sudden descent [4]. Meanwhile, John Cox, an aviation expert from the consulting firm Safety Operating Systems, points out that the nose of the aircraft was pointed upwards on the videos, but the plane was not climbing [4]. These are aspects that need further exploration during the investigation.
Though no definitive cause has been announced, analysts remain cautious against jumping to conclusions [4]. Investigators are likely to examine multiple theories, including mechanical or systems failure, human factors, environmental or external factors, and analyzing the flight data recorder [5].
India has been rocked by this devastating tragedy, and the world awaits the outcomes of the ongoing investigation to better understand the sequence of events that led to this horrific loss of life.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025). Air India plane crash: What we know so far. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59440282
[2] The Economist. (2025). The Tragic Tale of Air India Flight AI171. [online] Available at: https://www.economist.com/picture-special/2025/06/17/the-tragic-tale-of-air-india-flight-ai171
[3] The Guardian. (2025). Air India crash: What we know about the suspected bird strike. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/14/air-india-crash-what-we-know-about-suspected-bird-strike
[4] The New York Times. (2025). After a Flight Crash, Investigators Seek Answers. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/world/asia/air-india-plane-crash.html
[5] Hindustan Times. (2025). Air India crash: Ground personnel's relief when they heard black box recovered, but analysis to take time. [online] Available at: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/air-india-crash-ground-personnel-s-relief-when-they-heard-black-box-recovered-but-analysis-to-take-time-101684852818001.html
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