Former US Navy Pilot points to engine failure in Air India Boeing 787 crash after new video evidence
Ahmedabad: Aviation expert Captain Steve Scheibner, a former US Navy pilot, has revised his analysis of the tragic Air India Boeing 787 crash near Ahmedabad, now suggesting a dual engine failure as the likely cause. This devastating incident, India's deadliest air disaster in nearly two decades and the first fatal crash involving a 787 Dreamliner, has been under intense scrutiny since it occurred.
Initially, just hours after the crash, Captain Scheibner reviewed publicly available social media footage and proposed four potential causes: power loss, fuel contamination, a bird strike, or an issue with the aircraft's flap configuration. However, new evidence has emerged that has led him to update his assessment.
A clearer video, unlike the initial low-quality versions, clearly shows the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a crucial backup system that automatically activates in the event of a complete loss of electrical or hydraulic power, or a dual engine failure. In a recently released YouTube video, Captain Scheibner pointed out, "In the middle of the circle, you see kind of a protrusion on the belly of the aircraft... just underneath that you see a little grey dot... that little grey dot is the RAT." This visual confirmation strongly suggests a significant power loss.
Furthermore, the audio accompanying the new video reveals a distinct high-pitched sound, which Captain Scheibner identifies as the noise produced by the RAT's two-bladed propeller spinning at high speed to generate emergency power.
Corroborating this evidence is the testimony of a survivor seated in 11A, near an emergency exit, who reported hearing "a loud bang" followed by flickering lights just before the crash. Captain Scheibner stated that this account is "consistent with RAT deployment."
Adding to the evidence, Captain Scheibner also referenced unconfirmed reports of the pilot's Mayday call, where the captain reportedly mentioned "they were losing thrust or something to that effect." Based on the visual evidence of the deployed RAT, the distinctive sound captured in the video, the survivor's account, and the reported Mayday call, Captain Scheibner has now concluded, "I’m solidly now in the camp that they had some sort of dual engine failure."
Previously, in his initial analysis, Captain Scheibner considered several possibilities, including the pilot accidentally retracting the flaps instead of the landing gear after takeoff, leading to a loss of lift. He also considered the possibility of a dual engine failure due to a bird strike or fuel contamination, but deemed these less likely based on the initial information available.
However, with the emergence of the new video and survivor testimony, the focus has shifted towards a catastrophic dual engine failure as the primary cause of the Air India Boeing 787 crash. Despite this significant development, Captain Scheibner emphasises that the underlying reason for such a dual engine failure on a modern aircraft like the 787 remains a mystery, stating, "But we’re still at square one. We don’t know why both engines on a 787 flamed out after takeoff. It’s a real head-scratcher." Investigations into the tragic incident are ongoing.
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Karnataka Cabinet ratifies decisions on internal reservation for SCs
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Cabinet has ratified its earlier decisions on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes and approved key modifications to streamline recruitment, including withdrawal and reissue of notifications and adoption of a 400-point roster system.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil on Thursday said the Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to implementing internal reservation within the 15 per cent SC quota and expediting long-pending recruitment across departments.
"The Cabinet ratified decisions taken in earlier meetings (April 16 and April 24) and made modifications regarding reservation policies," Patil said.
He said the government will implement internal reservation within the 15 per cent quota for Scheduled Castes in specified proportions and revise recruitment notifications accordingly, with a 400-point roster to be followed.
If fewer than three roster points for SC arise in recruitment, then all 101 Scheduled Caste communities will be allowed to compete under SC general, he said.
Patil added that recruitment notifications issued without incorporating internal reservation will be withdrawn and reissued in line with the revised policy.
"If the Supreme Court approves 24 per cent reservation for SC/ST, six per cent backlog posts will be filled," he said, noting that urgent steps will be taken to fill 56,432 approved posts.
The latest decision follows the Cabinet's April 24 resolution that cleared a revised internal reservation formula within the overall 15 per cent SC quota, paving the way for long-pending government recruitment. The government had approved 5.25 per cent reservation each for the "right-hand" and "left-hand" groups, and about 4.5 per cent for other Scheduled Castes, including nomadic communities.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had then said the categorisation was worked out proportionately within the constitutional ceiling. "From tomorrow onwards, the recruitment process will begin with the issuance of notifications," he had said after the April 24 Cabinet meeting.
He also noted that the SC quota was fixed at 15 per cent and ST at three per cent in line with the 50 per cent cap laid down in the Indra Sawhney case, while pointing out that the Supreme Court had permitted internal reservation within constitutional limits.
