Air India Crash: Evidence & What Happened
- It could take months to reach definitive conclusions explaining India's deadliest plane crash in three decades.
- But a new York Times analysis of photos and videos from the June 12 incident - which where reviewed with aviation safety experts, including former pilots and...
- The analysis suggests that the plane likely extended its wing flaps and slats before takeoff, used adequate runway distance, and took off from a typical...
Uncover critical insights into the Air India crash. A New York Times analysis reveals key details about the disaster, including the likely extended wing flaps and slats during the fatal takeoff. Experts are investigating the possible mechanical failures and sequence of events, suggesting a potential catastrophic loss of power. The analysis of the flight shows a relatively normal initial ascent before a rapid descent. We delve into the takeoff, runway distance, and the position of the plane. At News Directory 3, we bring you comprehensive coverage of aviation incidents. Delve into the evidence and join us as we analyze the details surrounding this tragic Air India crash. Discover what’s next in the ongoing investigation.
It could take months to reach definitive conclusions explaining India’s
deadliest plane crash in three decades.
But a new York Times analysis of photos and videos from the June 12
incident - which where reviewed with aviation safety experts, including
former pilots and crash investigators, as well as an audio forensics
expert – reveals key details about the disaster.
The analysis suggests that the plane likely extended its wing flaps and
slats before takeoff, used adequate runway distance, and took off from a
typical point with a relatively normal initial ascent.
Within seconds of takeoff, though, the landing gear retraction process
appears to have failed, and the plane’s emergency power generator was
likely deployed.
Experts say thes failures indicate that the plane could have experienced
a catastrophic loss of hydraulic, electrical or engine power while
airborne.
A takeoff like any other
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the takeoff of Air India Flight 171 from the Ahmedabad airport has been
under intense scrutiny for early warning signs that would suggest that
issues appeared before takeoff. However, multiple experts interviewed by
The Times said that the initial takeoff appeared relatively normal and
that it did not seem as though the plane lacked necessary thrust from its
engines on the ground.
A New York times analysis of CCTV footage and flight data shows that the
position where the plane left the runway was in line with its seven
previous departures from the same runway. The Times determined the likely
position of the CCTV camera and used its outlook to determine the
plane’s approximate takeoff point.
Source: Google (satellite image) and Reuters (image from video)
Note: Plane in satellite image is not to scale.
The New York Times
Flight used the usual runway length
Gaps in available flight tracking data have raised another question:
whether the aircraft used the back half of the runway, which would
normally be necessary to generate enough power for takeoff.
At about 1:34 p.m. local time, the aircraft was taxiing adjacent to the
departure runway but had not entered it, flight tracking data shows. Five
minutes later, around 1:39 p.m., data shows the plane airborne near the
end of the runway, with no recorded points in between.
A Times analysis of the CCTV footage shows that the aircraft’s position
on the runway when it enters the video frame at 1:38 p.m. would only be
possible if it had backtracked on the runway.
Sources: Flightradar24 (flight data), Google (satellite image) and
Reuters (image from video)
The New York Times
The fatal flight’s initial trajectory in the air is also somewhat typical
and does not deviate substantially from the previous seven Air India
Flight 171 departures from Ahmedabad, according to historical flight
data.
“Once the airplane gets airborne, the initial climb rate looks pretty
normal,” said John Cox, a former airline pilot.
Slats and flaps were likely extended
The airplane’s rapid descent shortly after taking off has raised concerns
about whether the slats and flaps on its wings were in an extended
position for takeoff. They are typically deployed before takeoff to
provide more surface area to create lift.
A photo from the wreckage site shows the right wing slats in an extended
position, suggesting they were likely extended for takeoff.
Source: Image from Ankit Sheth, via X
The New york times
Soot and burn marks visible on the wing also suggest that when the
aircraft crashed, the slats were in an extended position.
The burn marks indicate that the slats were deployed prior to impact, or
at least when the explosion occurred on the ground, said Shawn
Pruchnicki, a former accident investigator at the Air Line Pilots
Association.
The extended position of the slats also indicates that the flaps on the
trailing edge of the wings were deployed, despite a lack of clear
visibility of the flaps in the crash video, according to Mr. Pruchnicki.
All Boeing 787-8 aircraft, like Air india Flight 171, automatically
extend their slats when the flaps are activated by pilots.
Another indication that the slats were extended during flight comes from a
video of the crash shot from a nearby rooftop, which shows a slight
shadow on the leading edge of the plane’s right wing as it descends.
Source: Newsflare, via Associated Press (image from video)
The New York Times
The investigation into the crash of Air India Flight 171 is ongoing, with
authorities examining the flight recorders and wreckage to determine the
precise cause of the accident. Further analysis will focus on the
potential mechanical failures and the sequence of events in the moments
leading up to the crash.