Investigators probing the June 12 crash of Air India flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick are examining the possibility of a fuel system failure. Officers stated that visual evidence and wreckage confirmed a power failure seconds after takeoff. The aircraft reached only 625 feet in altitude before crashing into a medical hostel building. “The material evidence, which includes the wreckage and the videos of the takeoff as well as the crash, indicate a definite power failure on the flight,” said one officer. Probe teams await black box data to determine the cause, though the devices are reportedly damaged.
The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), currently assisting in Ahmedabad, is comparing the AI-171 case with a February 2020 incident at Gatwick. That case involved an Airbus A321 that lost power in both engines shortly after takeoff. The aircraft returned safely after declaring a Mayday. The AAIB later found fuel contamination to be the root cause, despite engineers having cleared the aircraft prior to flight. Officers confirmed that findings from the Gatwick incident are relevant due to the similar nature of engine malfunction and immediate post-takeoff failure.
Officials are now reviewing the aircraft’s technical logs from the 24–48 hours before the crash. They aim to identify any previous reports of abnormalities, ECAM messages, or thrust issues. “The aircraft was incoming from Paris to Delhi and from Delhi to Ahmedabad… In fact, it made a round trip to Paris from Delhi on June 11-12. Just a day earlier, it had returned to Delhi after a round trip to Tokyo,” said one officer. Investigators will determine whether engineers or pilots noted any faults before clearing the flight for takeoff from Ahmedabad.
The black boxes and DVR have been recovered but remain damaged. Officials stated that file extraction would be complex, and they may send the devices to the U.S. NTSB for analysis. Chemical analysis of the wreckage is underway to detect fuel contamination. “Fuel contaminated with water is the most common cause of power loss in flights,” said an officer. Investigators have not indicated sabotage but are examining maintenance records to check for possible oversight, corrosion, or contamination in the aircraft’s fuel system.
Aishwarya is a journalism graduate with over three years of experience thriving in the buzzing corporate media world. She’s got a knack for decoding business news, tracking the twists and turns of the stock market, covering the masala of the entertainment world, and sometimes her stories come with just the right sprinkle of political commentary. She has worked with several organizations, interned at ZEE and gained professional skills at TV9 and News24, And now is learning and writing at NewsX, she’s no stranger to the newsroom hustle. Her storytelling style is fast-paced, creative, and perfectly tailored to connect with both the platform and its audience. Moto: Approaching every story from the reader’s point of view, backing up her insights with solid facts.
Always bold with her opinions, she also never misses the chance to weave in expert voices, keeping things balanced and insightful. In short, Aishwarya brings a fresh, sharp, and fact-driven voice to every story she touches.
Will Nitish Kumar’s Son Nishant Kumar Finally Enter Politics? Bihar CM’s Son Drops A Big Hint
Speculation over Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar entering politics grew after JD(U) leader…
Netflix has sealed a $72 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros Discovery’s TV and film…
Smriti Mandhana has posted for the first time on her Instagram handle since her wedding…
