The fatal air crash of the London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has left everyone in confusion and anguish. More than 200 lives have been lost, reportedly with families waiting to hear about their loved ones. Though the reason for the failure of this Ahmedabad to London Gatwick flight has still not been declared officially, recent reports suggest it might have been due to a bird hit. Here’s what the aviation experts have said.
Aviation Expert Reveals Reason For Crash
Just minutes after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, June 12, afternoon, the plane crashed into a building. In an interview with Mid-Day, aviation expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan said that the airport is ‘notorious for birds.’ He explained that to prevent birds, there should be no garbage dumping, slaughterhouses, etc, within a 13 km radius of a runway.
However, neither the municipality nor the government enforced this because everything is politically controlled. So, it is most likely that this crash occurred due to a bird strike, because Ahmedabad is quite known for birds, he told the publication. Bird ingestion into an aeroplane engine can cause critical failures and loss of thrust, especially dangerous during takeoff due to low altitude and heavy fuel loads, said aviation expert Mohan Ranganathan. Fuel, typically stored in the wings for balance, adds weight that affects climb performance and control.
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With Pakistan’s airspace closed and Gulf disturbances causing diversions, the aircraft likely carried extra fuel. A Malaysian pilot noted that bird strikes, while often minor, can be catastrophic if engines are hit. Suspected dual-engine failure in this case prompted a mayday call, indicating a critical cockpit emergency. The Boeing 787-8, designed for long-haul flights, is harder to manage at low speeds when fully fueled, increasing crash risks and reducing survivability right after takeoff.
Also Read: Air India Plane Crash: What We Know So Far About This Tragic Incident In Ahmedabad