Possible dual engine failure eyed in Air India crash as pilots recreate final moments
The simulation, conducted independently from the official probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), adds weight to suspicions of a catastrophic engine or electrical failure.
Agencies

New Delhi, 2 July
More than two weeks after the deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed
241 of the 242 people on board, investigators and the airline are probing a
possible dual engine failure as a cause of the Boeing 787’s inability to stay
airborne. Airline pilots have simulated the doomed flight’s final moments in a
simulator, replicating the aircraft’s parameters—landing gear deployed and wing
flaps retracted—but found those factors alone didn’t lead to a crash,
suggesting a technical failure may have played a critical role.
The simulation, conducted independently from the official probe by the
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), adds weight to suspicions of a
catastrophic engine or electrical failure. Moments before impact, the
emergency-power turbine (RAT) deployed, indicating loss of electrical power.
Analysts also noted that although the pilots began retracting the landing gear,
the doors hadn’t opened, hinting at possible hydraulic or power failures.
Investigators are scrutinising flight recorder data for more clues, but the
simultaneous loss of power in both General Electric engines remains
unexplained. The crash marks the first time a Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been
lost and stands as the worst Indian civil aviation disaster in decades.
Boeing, General Electric, and Air India have refrained from commenting,
citing the ongoing investigation. Teams from Boeing and the US National
Transportation Safety Board are assisting AAIB experts. Analysis of the
wreckage confirmed the wing flaps and slats were extended correctly, but only
15 seconds separated the pilots’ Mayday call from the fatal impact.
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