 "Firefighters work to put out a fire at the site where an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India, on Friday. Reuters")
The deadly Air India flight AI-171 crash shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad has been described as “very surprising” by a leading safety expert, raising questions about how such a catastrophic failure could take place during one of the most controlled phases of flight.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying 242 passengers and bound for London Gatwick, crashed near a residential neighborhood just minutes after departure, killing everyone on board.
The aircraft failed to climb beyond 200 meters (around 650 feet), according to early reports.
Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising from the crash site as emergency teams rushed to the scene, launching immediate rescue and recovery efforts.
John McDermid, a professor of computer science at the University of York and an expert in safety engineering, said that although it is still too early to determine what led to the crash, the incident is “very surprising” at first glance.
“Pilots can abort takeoff until quite late,” AP quoted McDermid as saying.
“So it seems like the problem occurred very suddenly in the final part of the takeoff roll, or shortly after takeoff, and was sufficiently serious to be unmanageable,” he added.
He said the aircraft had not climbed above 200 meters (approximately 650 feet), a factor that may offer clues to investigators about the rapid failure.
McDermid also pointed out that modern jets like the Boeing 787 are equipped with numerous backup systems, including the ability to climb on a single engine.
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The crash marks the first total hull loss involving a Boeing 787 since the aircraft entered commercial service in 2011, renewing scrutiny over its safety record amid previous warnings from industry insiders.
With inputs from agencies