Air India Crash: Did Both Engines Fail Before Fuel Switch-Off?
Man, the aviation world is still in shock after Air India Flight AI-171 went down. Ahmedabad to London—a routine trip turned nightmare. The official investigation’s ongoing, but here’s the thing: early reports are all over the place. Some say it was a fuel cutoff, others swear both engines conked out right after takeoff. Let’s break down what we know, what experts think, and why this whole situation feels so unsettling.
1. The Incident: What Actually Went Down?
Flight Details:
So this was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner—not some old clunker, just 7 years old. 215 passengers, 10 crew. The Ahmedabad-London route? Usually smooth sailing. Which makes what happened next even harder to swallow.
Timeline of Events:
– Takeoff looked normal. Then—bam—engines start acting crazy within minutes.
– ATC recordings caught the pilots yelling “dual-engine flameout.” That’s aviation speak for “we’re in deep trouble.”
– They tried emergency procedures, but the plane dropped like a rock. Crashed in some farmland, thank God not a crowded area.
2. Early Reports vs. What’s Coming Out Now
Conflicting Info:
First, media blamed the pilots—said they cut fuel by mistake. But now? Leaks from the investigation suggest both engines failed on their own before anyone touched the fuel system.
What the Experts Noticed:
– ATC tapes show pilots desperately trying to restart engines mid-air. That’s not normal.
– Black box data shows engine temps spiking weirdly before everything went quiet.
– Investigators keep using the phrase “catastrophic engine seizure.” Doesn’t sound good, does it?
3. The Million-Dollar Question: Engines or Fuel?
Possible Reasons Engines Died:
– Mechanical: Maybe a turbine blade snapped. Like your car engine throwing a rod, but at 30,000 feet.
– Fuel Problems: Bad gas or clogged lines could’ve starved the engines. Remember putting diesel in a petrol car? Similar idea.
– Computer Override: The plane’s brain might’ve cut fuel to prevent a fire. Self-preservation gone wrong.
Pilot’s Perspective:
Capt. Rajeev Sharma (retired) told me: “Two engines failing together? That’s lottery odds. Either maintenance was sloppy or there’s a design flaw Boeing ain’t admitting yet.”
4. History Repeating Itself?
Other Close Calls:
– Miracle on the Hudson (2009): Birds took out both engines. Sully became a legend.
– Qantas Flight 32 (2010): Engine blew up mid-air because of an oil leak. They landed safely but it changed safety checks forever.
Air India’s Track Record:
Here’s the uncomfortable truth—DGCA called them out in 2022 for delaying engine checks. When companies cut corners to save money, guess who pays?
5. What We Still Don’t Know
Big Unanswered Questions:
– Why did early reports ignore the engine failure angle? Cover-up or just confusion?
– If this is Boeing’s fault, how deep does the rabbit hole go? Remember the 737 MAX mess?
Who’s Sweating:
The final report’s months away, but when it drops? Lawyers will have a field day.
6. Flyer Beware: Protecting Yourself
Before You Board:
– Check airline safety ratings on AirSafe. Takes two minutes.
– Actually watch the safety demo. Those brace positions matter—ask anyone who’s survived a crash landing.
Holding Airlines Accountable:
Victims’ families are screaming for answers. As they should. Your ticket price includes the right to know why a plane fell out of the sky.
7. Where Do We Go From Here?
Look, until the investigation wraps, we’re all guessing. But this much is clear: airlines need better maintenance checks, and engines need real-time monitoring. Most of all? The industry has to stop treating passengers like cargo and start treating safety like it matters.
FAQs
Q1: Was it the engines or the fuel system?
Right now, engine failure looks more likely. But investigators haven’t ruled anything out yet.
Q2: How often do both engines fail together?
Almost never. We’re talking “struck by lightning twice” levels of rare.
Q3: What’s Air India doing about this?
They’ve grounded similar planes for checks. Bit late for the folks on AI-171, though.
Q4: How can I check if my airline’s safe?
Aviation Safety Network keeps records of every incident. Worth a look before booking.
Source: Navbharat Times – Default
