Air India Flight AI171 Crash Probe Zeroes in on Engine Thrust Failure
Investigators suspect a thrust failure caused the deadly crash of Air India flight AI171, which plunged shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12.
Boeing 787 Struggled Down Runway
Sources reveal the Boeing 787 Dreamliner barely cleared the airport’s 3.5-kilometre runway before liftoff. This unusually long take-off roll has raised red flags over whether the engines provided enough power at the critical moment.
“The longer runway roll hints at a possibility of the aircraft not having adequate thrust for take-off,” said a source close to the probe.
Officials confirm no pre-flight issues or requests for runway or thrust changes. Weather was stable with clear visibility, and temperatures, though high, stayed within safe limits.
Black Boxes Key to Cracking the Crash
The focus now shifts to the aircraft’s black boxes. Data from the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) will offer vital clues about the power loss that doomed 53 British passengers and more than 200 others aboard.
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), backed by global experts, prioritise recovering and analysing these recordings.
The crash stunned experts by the lack of distress calls or warning signs before impact.
“Everything looked routine until the very last seconds,” said a flight operations analyst.
Global Teams Join Forces in Investigation
The tragedy has sparked a multi-agency international probe including Air India, Boeing, the DGCA, and aviation watchdogs worldwide. A key focus is the Boeing GEnx engines’ performance under extreme heat and heavy load.
