Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
Tragic Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crash: Ahmedabad to Gatwick Flight Ends in Disaster
Distressing video captures the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plummeting to the earth and igniting into a massive blaze immediately following takeoff. The flight, en route to Gatwick Airport in London, departed from Ahmedabad, India, carrying 242 individuals. In a devastating turn of events, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, emerged as the sole survivor of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash.
Pilot’s Perspective on the Catastrophic Incident
Ross Aimer, a seasoned pilot with experience at major airlines, including United Airlines from 1964 to 2004, expressed his concerns regarding the crash, citing previous issues with the 787 model. “I’m shocked, but knowing some of the issues with the 787, I’m not that surprised. It was bound to happen,” Aimer stated. “It’s still premature to speculate. We lack sufficient information to determine the cause, but I did see the initial video of the takeoff.”
“The aircraft was fully fueled and heading to Gatwick. It’s a tragedy, but we don’t know what caused the airplane to crash. Weather conditions seemed favorable, as evident in the video showing clear skies. A potential engine failure is the only thing that comes to mind, given the aircraft’s rapid descent during takeoff. It would have been at its maximum gross weight at that crucial moment.”
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Past Concerns and Potential Grounding
Despite being the first crash involving this specific model since its introduction in 2011, the Boeing 787 has faced numerous issues that have led to flight groundings. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US safety regulator, has investigated several concerns over the years. This incident also follows two crashes involving Boeing’s 737 Max model in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019.
Aimer believes that authorities will likely consider grounding the aircraft. “It appeared as though the aircraft simply fell out of the sky,” he said. “I’m unsure about the flaps, but the 787 boasts some of the most advanced technology available today.”
Engine Considerations and Potential Issues
“Air India’s aircraft may have been equipped with the Rolls-Royce Trent engine. This engine has faced some controversy in the past and has been grounded for periods due to corrosion and cracking issues. The problem might not only be the aircraft itself; it could potentially stem from an engine malfunction,” Aimer suggested.
“Authorities will undoubtedly investigate this thoroughly. Aircraft and engines have been grounded in the past, and if any concerning issues are discovered, they will likely consider grounding this aircraft as well.”
Survivor and Passenger Details
Authorities have reported that the passenger manifest included 159 Indian citizens, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian citizen. Reports indicate that the sole survivor is a British man residing in London. Images show the man walking away from the wreckage before receiving medical attention in a hospital bed.
When asked about his perspective as an experienced pilot, Aimer responded, “Like any pilot with significant experience, I would exercise extreme caution.”
Impact on Aviation Confidence
“However, it’s important to avoid making broad statements about the aircraft’s safety without knowing the facts. Doing so would be irresponsible. But I’m not surprised, because we know there were a lot of problems with this aircraft, and they continue to have issues with manufacturing.”
He concluded by saying, “I fear that this incident might erode public confidence in aviation. I wouldn’t blame people for being wary about flying after so many crashes.”