India Plane Crash: Air Safety Investigator Analyzes Potential Causes

Initial Crash Analysis

• ✈️ Aviation analysts suggest flaps and slats may not have been properly deployed, which could prevent pilots from achieving altitude.
• 💡 However, a former air safety investigator states it's too early to determine the cause, noting modern aircraft have electronic checklists and alerts for such configurations.
• ⚠️ The investigator emphasizes that pilots would not initiate takeoff if the aircraft alerted them to improper flap or slat settings.

Recalling Past Incidents

• 📰 The investigator recalls the 1987 Northwest Airlines crash in Detroit, which occurred because flaps and slats were not set, highlighting the advancements since then.
• 🧠 Modern aircraft like the Dreamliner are equipped with systems that would alert pilots to takeoff configuration issues, making a repeat of the 1987 scenario unlikely without a mechanical failure.

Potential Causes for Loss of Power

• ❓ If reports of "no thrust, losing power" are verified, potential causes include contaminated fuel affecting both engines or a mechanical malfunction in the fuel delivery system.
• 🐦 Initial reports of the plane flying through a flock of birds are mentioned but not seen in available video footage.
• ⚙️ A simultaneous mechanical malfunction affecting both engines would need to be investigated.

Role of Environmental Factors

• 🔥 The extreme heat (100 degrees Fahrenheit) at the Indian airport is noted as a factor affecting aircraft performance, requiring longer ground runs and reducing engine efficiency.
• ⚖️ Crucially, the investigator points out the importance of the flight crew receiving and inputting accurate weight numbers into the aircraft's computer, as incorrect data can lead to insufficient thrust for the airplane's actual weight.

Survivor's Remarkable Survival

• ✨ The survival of one passenger, seated in the first row of economy near an exit door, is described as a miracle given the severity of the impact.
• 🚪 The bulkhead and proximity to the exit door are considered significant factors in the survivor's ability to escape.