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Authorities investigating the Air India crash that claimed at least 270 lives last week are examining whether the aircraft was operating on emergency power at the time of takeoff.
Preliminary findings suggest the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was en route to London Gatwick, may have experienced engine trouble shortly after departing from Ahmedabad on Thursday, June 12. The plane crashed into a medical college hostel just minutes after takeoff, at an altitude of only about 400 feet when both pilots reportedly lost engine power.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, assisted by officials from the UK, US, and Boeing, is focusing on whether the aircraft suffered a total or partial loss of thrust. One area of interest is whether the aircraft’s emergency ram air turbine—a backup power generator deployed in critical situations—was activated.
Sources cited by The Wall Street Journal indicate the aircraft’s flaps and flight control surfaces were configured for takeoff, but further analysis is ongoing. Investigators are reviewing the black boxes—specifically the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder—to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the crash.
“The data will reveal everything,” said Amit Singh, a former pilot and aviation safety expert. He emphasized that the cockpit voice recorder, which captures pilot communications and emergency alerts, could shed light on any last-minute coordination with air traffic control.
India’s aviation authority confirmed that pilots Sumeet Sabharwal and Clive Kunder issued a mayday call before the crash. Investigators are also analyzing CCTV footage from the area, eyewitness accounts, pilot training records, aircraft load data, and the plane’s maintenance history.
In response to the tragedy, the Indian government has set up a high-level committee to investigate the root causes and recommend improved emergency protocols. A preliminary report is expected within three months.
