More than 260 people died on Thursday in a devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner plunged just seconds after takeoff, and only one passenger survived. Dozens on the ground also lost their lives as the plane crashed into a doctor’s hostel.
Footage of the crash shows the plane struggling to lift. Flames erupted quickly, and experts began speculating almost immediately about what had happened. One of them, Ahmed Busnaina, an aeroplane engineer and professor, believes engine failure may be the main reason.
Flap Malfunction or Thrust Issue?
According to Busnaina, the video raises questions about the plane’s flaps. Flaps extend from the wing during takeoff to create more lift at lower speeds. If the crew forgot to deploy them or if a mechanical fault blocked them, the plane would have needed significantly more thrust to get airborne.
However, Busnaina said flap issues alone wouldn’t explain the full crash. He suspects a loss of thrust as the more critical issue. “It could’ve been an engine stall, a compressor failure, or something mechanical like a broken turbine blade,” he explained. “Bird strikes, overheating, or an oil leak — all are possibilities.”
Mayday Signals a Serious Problem
The pilot did send out a Mayday call right before the crash. That’s a clear sign that something went wrong. “Most likely, the engine wasn’t giving enough thrust,” said Busnaina. “That’s when you need the engine most — at takeoff.”
He added that while a plane can keep flying at high altitude with one engine, it can’t take off unless both engines work properly. “There’s no room for error during takeoff,” he said.
Could it be Human Error?
It’s possible, Busnaina noted, that the flaps weren’t deployed due to pilot error. But there’s also a chance of a fly-by-wire malfunction. Modern planes use electric motors instead of hydraulic systems. A software glitch could have prevented flap deployment.
Still, he emphasised that the flight crew usually knows if something is wrong before takeoff. The fact that they proceeded means that something may have failed after they were already in motion.
Final Answers Await Investigation
Authorities will now turn to the black box to determine what truly happened. Until then, experts like Busnaina can only make educated guesses. But engine failure remains the top theory.
“This tragedy shows how thin the margin of safety can be,” he said. “Every part of that aircraft must work — or it won’t fly.”
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