A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, marking the first fatal crash involving this aircraft model. The flight, AI171, was en route from India to the UK with 242 people onboard. One survivor has been found at the crash site. Authorities have retrieved one of the aircraft's black boxes and are continuing the search for the second.
Initial analyses from aviation experts, based on crash footage, suggest the aircraft entered a stall during takeoff. The plane's nose pitched upward but failed to climb, potentially due to dual-engine failure, flap misconfiguration, or bird strikes.
The aircraft, an 11-year-old Boeing 787-8, sent a "MAYDAY" emergency call to air traffic control shortly after takeoff, but communication was lost before it crashed. Surveillance footage showed the plane maintaining altitude for only about 30 seconds before losing thrust or power, descending, and ultimately crashing. Another video captured on a mobile phone showed the aircraft maintaining a stable attitude but losing altitude and speed before stalling and exploding.
Experts pointed out that a stall occurs when an aircraft's speed is insufficient to generate the lift needed for climbing, causing the plane to lose altitude. Some have speculated that a rare dual-engine failure could have occurred, though such incidents are extremely uncommon. The most notable example is the "Miracle on the Hudson," where a bird strike caused both engines to fail, but the aircraft safely landed on the Hudson River with no fatalities. Other potential causes of dual-engine failure include fuel contamination or blockage, though no evidence has yet confirmed this.
Some aviation experts suggested that the cause of the accident might be related to the aircraft failing to deploy its flaps during takeoff. Flaps play a critical role during takeoff, as they help generate maximum lift at low speeds, allowing the aircraft to climb. If the flaps are retracted too early after takeoff, it could result in a sudden loss of lift, a decrease in speed, and subsequently, a loss of altitude or even a stall. With local temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius and thinner air reducing lift potential, higher flap settings and stronger engine thrust are required. Under such conditions, even a minor configuration error could lead to catastrophic consequences.
Indian local media also reported that, under normal circumstances, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner would gradually retract its flaps and begin accelerating after takeoff, while the landing gear would be retracted once the aircraft had safely climbed to a certain altitude. However, based on eyewitness footage and wreckage at the crash site, the aircraft's landing gear was not retracted at the time of the crash, while the flaps were found to be fully retracted. This is highly unusual for a passenger aircraft still in its climb phase after takeoff. Some media analyses have suggested the possibility of human error, such as an "inadvertent retraction of the flaps," which may have led to the disaster.
In addition, the airport is known for frequent bird activity, with 462 bird strike incidents reported over the past five years. Some experts believe bird strikes could have caused engine failure.
Currently, investigators and aviation experts hold differing opinions on the cause of the crash. The final conclusion will only be determined after the black boxes are fully analyzed.
(Source: Compiled from CCTV News, Xinhua, Phoenix TV, and the BBC)
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