Air India flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London crashed within 98 seconds of takeoff, killing 241 people. The initial investigation report mentions the sudden shutdown of both engines, deployment of RAT and MAYDAY call. The report gives information about the last moments, based on which we can know what actually happened in those 98 seconds before the crash?
A very shocking revelations have been made in the 15-page report of AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) in the Air India plane crash. The report describes in detail the entire incident of the last 98 seconds of AI171 flight. This London-bound flight crashed soon after taking off from Ahmedabad. 241 people died in this accident, only one passenger survived.
AI171 took off after getting permission to fly at 1:37 pm. This Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner could stay in the air for only 32 seconds, after which it crashed. According to the initial report, by 1:38 pm, the speed of one engine had reached 284 kilometers per hour during the takeoff roll. In the next two seconds, the plane achieved Vr speed (rotation speed) – which was 287 kilometers per hour. Four seconds later, the plane left the ground and reached the air.
RAT also did not work due to low altitude
The report gives moment-to-moment information of the plane’s takeoff and it is told that after going into the air, the speed of the plane was recorded at 334 kilometers per hour. Immediately after this, the report states that the engines of the plane stopped, and the plane started losing its thrust. RAT i.e. Ram Air Turbine was deployed to increase the altitude.
RAT is used when the engines fail due to some problem or the hydraulic system stops working. Aviation experts say that at low altitudes the air flow is low and then RAT works. This only works when the plane is at high altitude in the sky.
From Delhi to Ahmedabad and takeoff for London:
- 05:47 UTC – Aircraft (AI423) arrives at Ahmedabad from Delhi
- 06:40 UTC – Aircraft released for takeoff after technical checks
- 06:25 UTC – Crew undergoes breath analyser test – all found fit
- 07:05 UTC (12:35 IST) – Crew seen in CCTV arriving at boarding gate
- 07:48:38 UTC – Aircraft departs from Bay 34
- 07:55:15 UTC – Taxi clearance granted
- 07:56:08 UTC – Taxiing commences
- 08:07:33 UTC – Takeoff clearance granted
- 08:07:37 UTC – Aircraft commences takeoff roll
- 08:08:33 UTC – V1 speed (153 Kts IAS) attained
- 08:08:35 UTC – Vr speed (155 Kts) attained occurred
- 08:08:39 UTC – Aircraft left the ground (in Air/Ground Sensor Air mode)
- 08:08:42 UTC – Maximum air speed recorded 180 Kts IAS
- Immediately after – Fuel cutoff switches of engines 1 and 2 were put in CUTOFF mode
- 08:08:47 UTC – RAT (Ram Air Turbine) deployed; The plane started losing altitude
- 08:08:52 UTC – Engine 1’s fuel cutoff switch was put back in RUN mode
- 08:08:54 UTC – APU inlet door started opening with auto start logic
- 08:08:56 UTC – Engine 2’s fuel cutoff switch was put back in RUN mode
- 08:09:05 UTC – MAYDAY call given
- 08:09:11 UTC – EAFR recording stopped, plane crashed
The plane crashed immediately after giving the MAYDAY call
According to the report, Engine 1’s fuel cutoff switch was put in RUN mode after five seconds, which started showing signs of engine recovery. Two seconds later, the APU inlet door started opening with auto start logic. Engine 2 also started going into stable mode after two seconds.
The report said that Engine 1 had stopped the decline in its core speed, which allowed it to restart. Engine 2, on the other hand, could not stop the drop in its core speed, due to which it could not return to full function.
The MAYDAY call was made at 1:39 pm (08:09:05 UTC). Six seconds later, at 08:09:11 UTC, the EAFR stopped recording. According to the report, the air traffic control officer asked for a response to the MAYDAY call, but there was no response, as the plane had by then crashed outside the airport boundary.
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