Within the aftermath of the tragic London-bound Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad that claimed greater than 200 lives, former pilot and content material creator Gaurav Taneja weighed in on the seemingly trigger.
Sharing his insights on X (previously Twitter), Taneja wrote: “Seems to be like a twin engine failure after take off. Nothing in need of a whole energy loss can drive a trendy plane into that type of sink price, proper after takeoff.” His assertion has triggered recent considerations about how uncommon and harmful such a situation is — particularly with trendy jetliners identified for his or her sturdy security mechanisms and redundancy in energy programs.
Indianexpress.com spoke to an aviation skilled to know what Taneja’s assertion implies from a security and procedural standpoint.
What precisely is a twin engine failure, and the way uncommon is it for each engines to close down instantly after take-off in industrial aviation?
Group Captain HS Chimni, previously employed with the Air Site visitors Management at a ahead air base within the Western Sector, tells indianexpress.com, “There isn’t any airline on the planet that doesn’t take full precautions and completely test an plane’s programs earlier than take-off.”
He provides that the true problem arises when there’s a minor drawback — sometimes a technical situation that isn’t detectable by way of routine or customary checks. “These checks, each in sort and frequency, are designed to catch something that would go improper. However regardless of that, some points can nonetheless go undetected. You possibly can’t get deep contained in the plane programs until it’s throughout a significant inspection, which occurs primarily based on set intervals,” he informs.
Group Capt. Chimni notes, “In conditions just like the one we’re discussing, the most typical and critical purpose for accidents shortly after takeoff or simply earlier than touchdown is chook strikes. It doesn’t take a big flock — even a single massive chook getting ingested into an engine can cease it immediately. Human habitation attracts chook exercise too.”
At that part of flight — simply after take-off — the plane is climbing straight and degree. Group Capt. Chimni says, “The pilot has little or no leeway to maneuver. It’s probably the most susceptible time: birds are considerable at that top, and the plane hasn’t but reached a secure altitude or pace to get well from any failure.” Nevertheless, he means that solely as soon as the flight knowledge recorder is retrieved and decoded, can one inform the precise purpose behind the tragic crash that occurred yesterday.
Story continues under this advert
Are there indicators of engine failure that may be seen early on by passengers?
In accordance with Group Capt. Chimni, these accidents are “true accidents” in each sense of the phrase. There’s often no premonition or warning. If birds strike the engine, even the pilot might not see it coming — it simply occurs immediately.
He notes, “Any predictable situation is often dealt with upfront by upkeep groups — particularly with main airways like Air India or different main carriers. These jets are constructed to be foolproof and are rigorously supervised and maintained. So, a upkeep failure is unlikely. If something, it’s extra seemingly a mechanical half failure — or in circumstances like this — chook strikes on each engines.”
Speedy security directions passengers ought to prioritise to maximise survival possibilities throughout take-off emergencies
In such circumstances, Group Capt. Chimni explains, an important factor a passenger can do is evacuate the plane as shortly and safely as doable. “The kind of response would depend upon the character of the emergency.”
All industrial plane are geared up with clearly marked emergency exits, and each flight’s security briefing contains directions on their use. Cabin crew additionally show these procedures. There are sufficient exits to evacuate the plane within the shortest doable time.
Story continues under this advert
Group Capt. Chimni says, “The true drawback arises when the crash is sudden, like on this case. As quickly because the plane hit the constructing, the gas tank seemingly exploded instantly. The plane was filled with gas, and the ignition brought on a large fireball.”
However in every other sort of emergency, he says, the place there’s time, passengers “ought to deal with reaching the exits and getting as distant from the plane as shortly as doable.”