While malpractice has not been ruled out, a technical snag seems to be the most likely cause of the Air India Ahmedabad plane crash identified thus far.

Airports Authority of India conduct a mock drill to assess emergency preparedness in case of a plane crash in the aftermath of the Air India Plane Crash. (Image: ANI)

More than two weeks after the deadly Air India crash that killed all but one of the 242 people on board, investigators and the airline are looking into whether both the engines of the plane failed, which may have caused the Boeing 787 to lose control and crash, reported Bloomberg. While malpractice has not been ruled out, a technical snag seems to be the most likely cause identified thus far.

Recreating AI171 flight conditions using simulator 

Pilots from the airline used a flight simulator to recreate the flight using the same conditions, such as landing gear being down and wing flaps pulled in. They found that these settings alone did not lead to a crash, Bloomberg reported citing people involved in the investigation. This finding, along with earlier evidence that an emergency power unit switched on just seconds before the crash, has made investigators focus more on a possible technical fault as one of the reasons for the accident.

The simulation, conducted independently from the official investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), was carried out to explore alternate scenarios and better understand the possible factors behind the incident, Bloomberg reported.

What is flight stimulation?

Flight simulation is done using computer models and the aim is to recreate a virtual environment of flying an aircraft. This includes how the aircraft moves, how it reacts to the pilot’s controls, and how it responds to things like wind, air pressure, and turbulence. In Air India’s case, it was done to determine what could have led to the fatal crash in June.

The simulator uses math and data to copy the physics of flying, like how an aircraft turns, climbs, lands, or, in Air India’s case, crashed. It is also used for pilot training, designing new aircraft, and research.

Added signs of worry

As the investigation remains in its early stages, the AAIB has not issued a formal statement. The cause for both engines losing power simultaneously will only be revealed once the data from both the flight recorders is recovered. Pilots who reviewed the crash footage point out the delayed retraction of the wheels after takeoff. They noted that the partially tilted landing gear and apparent loss of hydraulics indicated by the same.

Modern aircraft engines are managed by a computerised system known as Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), which assists pilots in regulating engine power while ensuring efficient performance within safe operating limits.

Previous findings revealed that a backup turbine, known as the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), was deployed before the crash. This emergency device, which extends from the aircraft’s rear during electrical failures, supplies essential power to onboard systems, although it is not capable of producing lift.

It was later revealed that the pilots issued a Mayday signal shortly after takeoff. Within 15 seconds of the distress call and take off, the flight crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad.