Air India Crash Probe Narrows to Possible Dual Engine Failure and Electrical Fault in Ahmedabad Dreamliner Tragedy

Investigators suspect engine and power failure behind Air India Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad that killed 241 people

Over two weeks after the Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, the cause of the fatal accident is still unknown. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was en route to London, crashed on June 12 shortly after departure, killing 241 of 242 people on board and a few others on the ground.

Investigators Turn Attention to Engine or Electrical Failure

Investigating authorities are focusing on potential dual-engine failure or significant electrical failure. The plane, featuring two General Electric engines, did not gain altitude after takeoff and crashed into a medical college hostel on the outskirts of the airport.

Simulator tests by Air India pilots replicated the configuration of the flight. Extendable landing gear, retracted flaps, and more were tested, but these in themselves did not account for the crash. 

This was stated by a Bloomberg report, quoting sources close to the investigation. The doubt now lies with a more fundamental mechanical or electrical failure.

Fueling that suspicion is the activation of the aircraft's emergency Ram Air Turbine (RAT) mere seconds before impact, a system that engages in the event of extreme electrical failure. Although it can drive simple systems, it cannot produce thrust.

Landing Gear and Mayday Suggest Sudden System Failure

Video analysis showed that the landing gear seemed to be tilted forward, indicating an unfinished retraction procedure. The gear doors, however, were not open, indicating a potential hydraulic or electrical malfunction.

Investigators have verified that wing slats and flaps, essential for liftoff, were extended correctly. Regardless, the plane lost control quickly. The pilots did get out a Mayday alert, but only 15 seconds after the accident, leaving them hardly any time to recover.

Black Box Analysis Underway, No Official Word Yet

Information from the black boxes, kitchen audio, and flight performance statistics was pulled out, and officials are predicting major findings early next week. No statement has yet been made by either Boeing or GE, nor publicly by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Boeing and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) teams are helping the AAIB with the ongoing investigation. The accident is the first complete loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the worst commercial air crash in India for decades.