Pilot’s Split-Second Decision May Have Caused
Crash Cause Theory and Flight Details
Aviation expert Captain Steve believes Air India flight AI171 crashed because “the co-pilot grabbed the flap handle and raised the flaps, instead of the gear.” This caused the 787 Dreamliner to lose altitude rapidly and crash in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people. The plane’s wings did not bend as expected during takeoff, supporting his theory.
The Tragedy and Survivors
The crash was India’s deadliest in a decade, with only one survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. He said, “I still can’t believe how I survived,” describing the plane feeling “stuck in the air” before it slammed into a building.
Investigation Efforts
Investigators recovered the black box from a rooftop near the crash. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and U.S. agencies like NTSB and Boeing are working “with full force” to determine the cause.
Pilot Information and Impact
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, with 8,200 flight hours, and co-pilot Clive Kunder, with 1,100 hours, are believed to have died. The crash also killed up to 24 people on the ground when the plane hit a canteen building.
