In a tragic Thursday that left families devastated and a nation in mourning, investigators have started to piece together what brought down Air India Flight 171.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying 242 people en route to London, slammed into a residential complex near a medical college just moments after takeoff. It was the kind of catastrophe no one expects, especially involving a modern aircraft with a strong safety record.
The crash site told a grim story. Flames, debris, and the shattered lives of medical professionals and passengers painted a heartbreaking picture in Ahmedabad. But as the dust begins to settle, aviation experts are starting to zero in on what might have gone wrong within those crucial first seconds in the air.
Experts Point To Engine Failure After Bird Strike
Former Air India pilot Saurabh Bhatnagar believes “multiple bird hits wherein both the engines lost power.” He noted that the plane began descending right after reaching gear-retraction altitude, a critical phase when the engines must support the aircraft’s full weight. “The takeoff was perfect,” Bhatnagar told NDTV. “And just, I believe, short of taking the gear up, the aircraft started descending, which can happen only in case the engine loses power or the aircraft stops developing lift.”
Lt. Col. John R. Davidson, a former U.S. Air Force pilot, added that scenarios like bird strike, engine failure, or incorrect flap settings can cause a stall. While official confirmation is still pending, both experts point to engine thrust issues likely triggered by bird impact.
For now, one truth stands: the final moments of Flight 171 were short, silent, and tragically irreversible.