Expert explains problem she believes led to Air India plane crash that killed 242 people
Only one passenger survived the crash
Featured Image Credit: Raju Shinde/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
An expert has explained the problem that she believes led to the Air India plane crash that tragically killed 242 people.
The incident took place earlier this month when Air India AI171 flight leaving Ahmedabad, western India, bound for London, crashed into a building shortly after take off.
Tragically 242 people on board died, with just one sole survivor escaping the wreckage.
Others on the ground were also killed at the scene.
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While the authorities are now working to determine what exactly went wrong, one expert believes she has the answer.
According to Mary Schiavo, who is an experienced professional having worked on aviation disasters and is the former US Department of Transportation inspector general, it was a computer glitch that caused the crash to happen.
In a report by the Mirror, Schiavo said: “I believe this crash was a computer problem. There are several 787 components that rely on computer code to tell the plane whether it is in the air or on the ground. If the computer or code malfunctions, the engines spool back and the thrust is reduced, even if in flight.
“This happened on an ANA 787 flight in 2019, which suffered a dual engine failure as landing, and I’m afraid it could have occurred on the fatal Air India Flight 171.”
The sole survivor of the crash, Vishwashkumar Ramesh, spoke to local news, saying: “I managed to unbuckle myself, used my leg to push through that opening, and crawled out.”
He added: “I saw people dying in front of my eyes - the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me.
“For a moment, I felt like I was going to die too, but when I opened my eyes and looked around, I realised I was alive.
“I still can’t believe how I survived. I walked out of the rubble.”
The chairman of Air India, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, defended the condition of the plane, telling Times Now: “The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and due for its next maintenance check in December 2025. There are a lot of speculations and a lot of theories.
“But the fact that I know so far is this particular aircraft, this specific tail, AI171, has a clean history. I am told by all the experts that the black box and recorders will definitely tell the story. So, we just have to wait for that.”
An official cause of the crash is yet to be determined.