ReutersAfter the deadly Air India plane crash near Ahmedabad airport on Thursday, an expert has weighed in on what might have gone wrong with the aircraft.
Pilots can abort takeoff until quite late, John McDermid, a computer science professor at the University of York with expertise in safety engineering, told AP.
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 stated.
While takeoffs and landings are the most dangerous phases of a flight, he noted that the plane had not climbed above 200 meters (650 feet). He also said that jets have many backup systems, such as the ability to climb with only one engine, which also made it an unusual accident.
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Google Earth imagery shows exact location of aircraft's take off & crash site in Meghaninagar. Watch video
The London-bound Air India flight, carrying 242 passengers, crashed minutes after takeoff. The aircraft struck a building identified as a doctors’ hostel, triggering a fire and widespread panic.
ALSO READ: Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Air India passenger plane with over 200 onboard crashes near Meghaninagar
The flight, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was headed to Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom. According to Air India, the passenger manifest included:
“The building on which it has crashed is a doctor's hostel... we have cleared almost 70% to 80% of the area and will clear the rest soon,” a senior police officer told reporters.
ALSO READ: Ahmedabad plane crash: List of India's most devastating air tragedies
Of the 242 people onboard, 217 were adults and 11 were children, an Air India source told Reuters.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft took off from Runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST and crashed shortly ..
“Air India B787 aircraft VT-ANB, while operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board… The aircraft was under the command of Capt Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundar,” the DGCA said in a statement.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was a line training captain with over 8,200 hours of flying experience. First Officer Clive Kundar had logged around 1,100 flying hours.
Visuals aired on local television showed large plumes of black smoke and flames at the crash site. Emergency responders were seen transporting injured passengers on stretchers and rushing them to nearby hospitals.
Air traffic control officials said the flight crew issued a "Mayday" distress call shortly after becoming airborne. No further communication was received before the aircraft went down just beyond the airport’s outer boundary.
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing said it is monitoring the situation.
“We are aware of the initial reports and are working to gather more information,” the company said in a statement.
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is feared to have been among the passengers onboard the ill-fated flight, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.
Pilots can abort takeoff until quite late, John McDermid, a computer science professor at the University of York with expertise in safety engineering, told AP.
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 stated.
While takeoffs and landings are the most dangerous phases of a flight, he noted that the plane had not climbed above 200 meters (650 feet). He also said that jets have many backup systems, such as the ability to climb with only one engine, which also made it an unusual accident.
Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Google Earth imagery shows exact location of aircraft's take off & crash site in Meghaninagar. Watch video
The London-bound Air India flight, carrying 242 passengers, crashed minutes after takeoff. The aircraft struck a building identified as a doctors’ hostel, triggering a fire and widespread panic.
ALSO READ: Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Air India passenger plane with over 200 onboard crashes near Meghaninagar
The flight, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was headed to Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom. According to Air India, the passenger manifest included:
- 169 Indian nationals
- 53 British citizens
- 7 Portuguese nationals
- 1 Canadian citizen
“The building on which it has crashed is a doctor's hostel... we have cleared almost 70% to 80% of the area and will clear the rest soon,” a senior police officer told reporters.
ALSO READ: Ahmedabad plane crash: List of India's most devastating air tragedies
Of the 242 people onboard, 217 were adults and 11 were children, an Air India source told Reuters.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that the aircraft took off from Runway 23 at 1:39 PM IST and crashed shortly ..
“Air India B787 aircraft VT-ANB, while operating flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick, crashed immediately after takeoff from Ahmedabad. There were 242 people on board… The aircraft was under the command of Capt Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kundar,” the DGCA said in a statement.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was a line training captain with over 8,200 hours of flying experience. First Officer Clive Kundar had logged around 1,100 flying hours.
Visuals aired on local television showed large plumes of black smoke and flames at the crash site. Emergency responders were seen transporting injured passengers on stretchers and rushing them to nearby hospitals.
Air traffic control officials said the flight crew issued a "Mayday" distress call shortly after becoming airborne. No further communication was received before the aircraft went down just beyond the airport’s outer boundary.
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing said it is monitoring the situation.
“We are aware of the initial reports and are working to gather more information,” the company said in a statement.
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani is feared to have been among the passengers onboard the ill-fated flight, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.
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