🚨 Shocking Discovery: Why Both Engines on Air India 171 Failed at the Same Time — Just Months After Being Replaced They were brand new. Installed only 3 months earlier. So how did both engines fail mid-air — simultaneously? Investigators now point to a hidden flaw no one saw coming… or was it overlooked on purpose? 🛠️
Air India plane crash: MoS Civil aviation calls dual engine failure ‘rare’, says report expected in 3 months
Ahmedabad plane crash: Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the tragic Air India AI 171 plane crash in Ahmedabad from all possible angles including sabotage. The London-bound Air India Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 crashed on June 12, killing 274 people, including residents on the ground.
Speaking with NDTV, Mohol said, “The AAIB has begun a full investigation into it… CCTV footage is being reviewed, and all angles are being assessed. Several agencies are working on it.”
What do we know about the AI 171 crash?
Flight AI 171 took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:30 PM and lost altitude almost immediately. The aircraft plummeted into the residential quarters of BJ Medical College doctors in the Meghaninagar area. Only one of the 242 people onboard survived. The crash also killed nine medical students and their relatives who were in the vicinity.
The pilot had issued a Mayday distress call seconds after takeoff, according to Air Traffic Control.
Dual engine failure suspected
Calling the crash a “rare case,” Minister Mohol pointed to the possibility of a dual engine failure. “It has never happened that both engines have shut down together,” he said. “We will be able to ascertain whether it was an engine problem, fuel supply issue, or something else after the investigation.”
The recovered black box, containing the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), is currently in AAIB custody. Mohol confirmed it would not be sent abroad and the analysis would be completed in India. The final report is expected within three months.
DGCA inspects entire Dreamliner fleet
Following the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered a thorough inspection of all 33 Boeing Dreamliner aircraft in India. Mohol reassured the public: “Everything was found safe. People are no longer scared and travelling comfortably.”
He acknowledged public concern post-crash but reiterated the rarity of the incident.
Mohol also touched on other pressing aviation sector issues, including:
DGCA staffing: “There are 419 technical vacancies which the DGCA will soon begin addressing.”
Pilot exploitation: Private airline pilots facing excessive work hours were encouraged to approach the Civil Aviation Ministry directly.
Airfare and food prices: Efforts are underway to make air travel and airport food more affordable. “Udaan Yatri Cafes” offering items like Rs 10 water and Rs 20 snacks are already operational at a few airports and will expand.
In the aftermath of the Air India crash, multiple theories have emerged that led to the crash. Recently, a video has been going viral of an American pilot on YouTube that hinted towards a twin-engine failure as a pertinent reason for the crash.
Moreover, critical footage that has emerged reveals that emergency power deployment (or RAT) took place in the dreamline’s final moments. As a result, the investigation into the crash now likely takes a new turn.
To corroborate this video evidence, Bhaskar English contacted former Air India pilot Sumanta Roy Chowdhury.
What is the latest video that is being circulated on YouTube?
In a significant development in the Air India crash investigation, US aviation expert Captain Steve Scheibner has revised his earlier analysis, pointing to a catastrophic dual-engine failure as the likely cause of last week’s Boeing 787 8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad.
The new theory emerges from a detailed examination of rooftop footage capturing the aircraft’s final moments.
“What we’re seeing here changes everything,” says Scheibner, a former US Navy pilot with 20,000 hours of flying experience.
“The video clearly shows the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine, which only happens in the most critical emergencies.”
How are speculations taking place around the crash, which has been addressed by the American pilot?
Theory 1
Loss of power:
There was a dual-engine failure in the twin-engine of the Air India AI-171.
The backup to support this was that either it was a bird strike or it was some sort of fuel contamination that led to that dual-engine failure.
Theory 2
No flaps on takeoff:
The pilots didn’t have the flaps set properly for takeoff.
In simple words, the flaps were up and as they ran down the runway or waddled down, which led the aeroplane to crash.
Theory 3
Flaps retracted prematurely:
The third theory suggested that the flaps retracted prematurely or early after takeoff.
Had the flaps been set properly for takeoff, then when they rotated, everything was normal at the time, then the pilot would have asked for gear up.
However, the copilot mistakenly hit the flap handle and raised the flap handle prematurely.
The credibility of the theory holds maximum truth amongst the other 2 theories because when the flight crashed, the landing gear was still jutting out.
Based on the initial investigations, the reason of engine failure was ruled out as there was no smoke, no sparks or any rupture which could suggest a problem in the engine.
It is, however, important to note that the new evidence points towards the possibility of a dual-engine failure.
What’s the important new evidence?
A newly analysed video shows the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency power device, visible as a small grey protrusion on the aircraft’s underside.
In terms of civil aviation, the deployment of the RAT indicates a complete loss of normal electrical and hydraulic systems.
Why does the emergence of RAT point towards an engine failure?
Former Air India pilot Sumanta Roy Chowdhury hints that the deployment of the RAT points towards a dual-engine failure, as he says:
As soon as there is a system failure, the RAT (Ram Air Turbine) deploys automatically. No manual action is needed, though there is an option to deploy it manually if required.
RAT’s function is critical as it acts like a small, low-power generator. Once deployed, it provides power to essential hydraulic and electrical systems.
In the event of a hydraulic or electrical failure, the RAT pops out automatically. It resembles a mini propeller and supplies the power needed to operate vital systems that keep the aircraft flying. It powers the essential electrical buses and supports basic navigation and flight controls.
However, despite its utility, the RAT cannot provide enough hydraulic pressure to retract the landing gear. So, if there’s a hydraulic failure, the landing gear cannot be retracted, even with the RAT deployed, because the gear operates on hydraulic power.
Now, consider a scenario where the aircraft is descending from 30,000 feet — the RAT helps maintain essential control during such emergencies, functioning like a glider’s wind-powered generator.
The RAT will also deploy during ground scenarios if both Generator 1 and Generator 2 are turned off, even if done intentionally from the cockpit. The system cannot differentiate between an intentional or unintentional generator shutdown; it detects only that power has been lost and automatically deploys the RAT….
Based on these, Capt Sumanta hinted that there is a possibility that the ill-fated Boeing-787 crashed due to a rare dual-engine failure.
How does this change the investigation’s direction?
Earlier theories focused on improper flap settings, bird strikes, or fuel contamination.
The RAT deployment strongly suggests a catastrophic system failure affecting both engines simultaneously.
What confirms this wasn’t a normal flight situation?
Three key pieces of evidence:
Visual confirmation of RAT deployment
A distinctive high-pitched squeal characteristic of RAT operation
The lone survivor’s account of hearing “a loud bang” and seeing flickering cabin lights (which usually occurs during the time of a
Why couldn’t the pilots recover the aircraft?
The aircraft reached only 625 feet before crashing. At such low altitude, Scheibner explains, there simply isn’t enough time to restart engines, even with emergency power systems engaged.
How will the investigation unfold now?
Investigators will now analyse air traffic control recordings to confirm whether the Mayday call specifically mentioned engine failure.
This could provide definitive confirmation of Scheibner’s theory.
Expert Analysis
“The RAT deployment is like an aeroplane’s last-ditch emergency response,” Scheibner explains.
“It’s not designed for low-altitude emergencies like this one. When you’re at 400 or 500 feet and lose all power, there’s simply no time for recovery.”
Looking Ahead
While this new evidence provides crucial insights into the crash’s final moments, investigators continue gathering data. The air traffic control recordings, black box data, and detailed technical analysis will be essential in providing a complete picture of this tragic incident.
Some numbers that might be used during the investigation process:
Aircraft altitude at crash: 625 feet
Expert’s flight experience: 20,000 hours
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner specifications involved
Time from takeoff to crash: Under 2 minutes
Will the entire Boeing fleet that is currently in use be grounded during the time when investigation is going on?
According to former Air India pilot, Sumanta Roy Chowdhury:
The entire airline industry will run into massive financial losses if the entire Boeing fleet is cancelled.
Air India only operates around 34 aircraft, and if they are grounded, there will be massive losses to the country, and similarly, around the world, there will be severe losses to the companies which are using these aircraft.
According to me, the flights belonging to boeing which are facing a technical glitch needs to be grounded, tested and the rest needs to be operational.
At one point of time, Airbus A-320 was grounded baselessly without even understanding the advanced technical systems which were fitted in the aircraft.
In the end, it was realised that the grounding was baseless and cost the airlines a lot.
Naturally, such a situation should not arise again this time.
