Emergency power system may have activated before aircraft hit residential area in Ahmedabad
A DOOMED Air India flight that crashed shortly after take-off last Thursday may have suffered catastrophic engine failure, investigators believe.
Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Heathrow, issued a Mayday call moments after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12. It climbed to just 650 feet before crashing into a residential area near a medical college, erupting into a fireball.
At least 270 people are confirmed dead, including 241 of the 242 people on board, with dozens more killed on the ground. Only one passenger, Briton Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, survived.
Early findings reported by the Wall Street Journal suggest the aircraft’s ram air turbine (RAT)—a backup power unit that deploys automatically in the event of dual engine failure or complete hydraulic pressure loss—may have been active at the time of the crash.
The activation of the RAT is raising questions about whether both engines failed mid-air. Such an occurrence is extremely rare in modern aviation. Anthony Brickhouse, a US-based aerospace safety consultant, said twin engine failure is “extraordinarily uncommon,” but not impossible—especially in the event of bird strikes, severe fuel issues, or maintenance lapses.
Investigators are now examining whether the landing gear had been retracted, and whether the thrust and flap settings were appropriate during take-off. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India is leading the inquiry, with support from US and UK aviation safety teams.
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft burst into flames as it struck a building and surrounding structures, with debris scattered across a wide radius. Survivors on the ground described scenes of devastation, with one saying: “Right in front of my eyes, I saw air hostesses, uncles, aunties dying.”
Authorities in Gujarat said 135 of the crash victims had been identified through DNA testing as of Tuesday, and 101 bodies have been returned to families. However, officials confirmed that five of the deceased were not listed on the flight manifest, raising further questions about who was on board.
Dr Rakesh Joshi, medical superintendent at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital, said: “135 DNA samples have been matched, and 101 bodies have already been handed over to the respective families. Of these 101 deceased, five were not on board the flight.”
The tragedy has prompted Air India to ground eight Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners pending technical checks. The airline’s safety record—previously rated as strong—has come under renewed scrutiny as investigators work to determine the root cause of the crash.
Further updates are expected as analysis of the flight data and cockpit voice recorders continues.
