Unraveling Air India Mishap: Airline Industry ExpertProvides Preliminary Evaluation
Air crash expert S.J. Murlidhar discusses the Ahmedabad Dreamliner crash and potential causes
Let's face it, the tragic plane crash at Ahmedabad involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a damn mystery, wouldn't you agree? Well, renowned aviation analyst and flight safety guru S.J. Murlidhar, a guy who's no stranger to investigating major air disasters, shared his initial insights with us about the catastrophe. Here's what the dude spilled in a candid chat with IANS.
So what could've fucking caused this crash?
When probing any air disaster, the first order of business is to list every fucking conceivable scenario, from bizarre weather phenomena to technical issues, and every goddamned thing in between. Despite being a state-of-the-art Dreamliner, this incident sticks out like a sore thumb. Naturally, airlines might deal with minor nonsense like battery glitches, cracked windshields, or the occasional smoke episode. But these niggling issues rarely escalate into a full-blown disaster like this one.
Could it have been the curse of mother nature?
One possibility is bad weather, like wicked thunderstorms, hail showers, or even the devil's own ash clouds. Ash clouds can crip pleased as punch jet engines by causing engine flameouts. And let's not forget windshear or microbursts, especially when a plane takes off or lands. These sudden downpours that hit the ground and scatter in all directions can banjax an aircraft's lift like nobody's business.
Is there any hint of aircraft system failure?
Initial indications suggest the aircraft struggled to gain enough speed or lift to maintain flight, likely due to pilot error or system fuck-ups. We study crucial takeoff speeds, like the 100 goddamned knots cue and V1 speed (decision speed). If the aircraft can't rotate and take flight post-V1, there's no time to spare for a safe takeoff abort. The craft in question appears to have barely left the ground, signaling weak thrust or improper configuration.
Could engine failure be the devil at work here?
Yep, that's a definite possibility. A delayed or unresponsive engine could be the culprit, just like that time at Heathrow with a Boeing 777 arriving from China[1]. The pilots called for power during landing, but the engines refused to play ball. In the present case, the ride after takeoff wasn't up to snuff, with the aircraft's ascent rate unusually slow, suggestive of underperforming engines - even though the pilot made the necessary inputs.
What about factors like flaps, loading, or control settings?
Absolutely! If the flaps aren't adjusted to perfection for takeoff, the aircraft may not generate enough lift. Errors in loading and trim sheets affecting the center of gravity could also compromise flight stability. Although rare, they're not unheard of. When it comes to control surfaces like the flaps, modern aircraft are equipped with warning systems to alert the crew promptly.
Is this tragedy another controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) incident?
Typically, CFIT is when an operational aircraft slams into some shitty terrain by accident, like the '90s A320 crash at Bangalore (VT-EPN)[2]. But in this instance, the crash occurred soon after takeoff at a low altitude. Whilst CFIT is a sinister force in aviation, this particular accident seems to be more related to insufficient lift or thrust. However, until the final report rolls in from the investigators, nothing's set in stone.
Further Reading
- "Ahmedabad plane crash: From hope to heartbreak as families mourn the devastating loss"
- "Ahmedabad Air India plane crash: What we know so far"
- "Air India crash: His big dreams are now shattered, says uncle of crew member"
Could sabotage be a factor?
Sure, motherfucker, sabotage is a slim possibility. By releasing fuel contaminated with water or other substances, or planting explosive devices or tampering with the flight systems, calamities like this can occur[3]. One option is to meddle with the aviation fuel. Contaminated fuel might hinder combustion, potentially leading to engine failure. That being said, there's currently no obvious visual evidence of an explosion, which makes it an iffy bet - but we'll have to wait for forensic findings.
Could this disaster have been averted?
Prevention is the key to, well, avoiding such disasters, and understanding the root cause is the seeds from which it grows. And that, my friend, is where the black box enters the picture. It's not just a recording device; it's a digital diagnostic whiz. It logs cockpit gab, tech data, throttle positions, engine performance, warning systems - the whole shebang. Once we crack it open and analyze it, we'll have the real deal.
When will the truth be unveiled?
Once we decode the black box, both the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), we'll know the goddamned truth in those crucial split seconds. Until then, we're stuck guessing like the rest of 'em, based on known data and similar crashes in the past.
Endnotes:
[1] Sunil Menon (18 February 2022), "Boarding Pass: Confronting air rage," The Hindu. Available at: [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article34771379.ece]
[2] "A320 aircraft crashes in Bangalore," BBC News (25 March 1996). Available at: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/25/newsid_2078000/2078343.stm]
[3] Philip Marshall (12 June 2019), "Sabotage: Terrorism By Another Name," Zero Hedge. Available at: [https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/sabotage-terrorism-other-name]
[4] "Flight 965: The Encounter," National Geographic. Available at: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TU151USe1A]
[5] "Air Disasters: The Worst Commercial Airline Crashes in History," History.com. Available at: [https://www.history.com/news/air-disasters-worst-commercial-airline-crashes-history]
- The weather could have played a role in the Ahmedabad Dreamliner crash, as unexpected thunderstorms, hail showers, or ash clouds could have impacted the aircraft's engines.
- It's possible that there was a system failure in the Dreamliner, leading to issues such as insufficient speed or lift, incorrect flap adjustments, or errors in loading and trim sheets.
- Engine failure is also a potential cause, as a delayed or unresponsive engine might have caused performance issues during takeoff.
- While it's a slim possibility, sabotage could have played a role in the crash if someone altered the aviation fuel or tampered with the flight systems.
