Air India flight 171 from Ahmedabad to the Gatwick airport in London crashed around 1.30 pm on Thursday, shortly after taking off.
New Delhi:
Air India flight AI-171, operating from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff, having climbed to only 672 feet. Based on expert insights, NDTV has reconstructed a likely sequence of events inside the cockpit during the aircraft’s final moments.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was carrying 242 people, including 230 passengers, 10 crew members, and two pilots. The crash occurred at 1:38 pm, moments after departure from Ahmedabad airport. Video footage captured the aircraft struggling to ascend before it began to lose lift—the aerodynamic force that keeps planes in the air—and ultimately plummeted to the ground, erupting into flames.
Experts, after reviewing the footage, said the aircraft appeared to suffer from low thrust shortly after lifting off. The Boeing 787-8, a model known for its excellent safety record, seemed to lack the necessary engine power as it tried to climb.According to specialists, the pilots likely pulled hard on the control yoke in an effort to gain altitude. The footage also indicates that the landing gear remained extended during this phase.
A distress call was made after takeoff, suggesting the aircraft was already facing serious trouble. Analysts believe that as the lift continued to deteriorate, the crew made repeated attempts to raise the nose, but the aircraft kept descending.The plane reportedly reached a top speed of only 174 knots—far lower than expected—which further suggests the engines were underperforming or not delivering sufficient power.
“The initial takeoff was smooth, but just before retracting the landing gear, the plane began to descend,” said Captain Saurabh Bhatnagar, a former senior pilot. “This kind of situation generally arises only if the aircraft loses engine power or can’t generate lift. The investigation will eventually determine the exact cause.”
On board were 169 Indian nationals, 53 from the UK, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese citizens. Air India has established a dedicated emergency helpline: 1800 5691 444.Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep shock over the incident and confirmed he is in contact with officials and monitoring developments closely.
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