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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Denver: A major accident was narrowly averted at Denver International Airport on Saturday afternoon when an American Airlines flight to Miami had to stop takeoff after its landing gear resulted in smoke and fire on the runway.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, operating as flight AA-3023, had 173 passengers on board, all of whom were safely evacuated. However, one person reportedly suffered a minor injury and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
A footage circulating online shows the moment panic-stricken passengers rushed down emergency slides while thick smoke rose from the aircraft’s left rear wheel.
🚨#BREAKING: Watch as People evacuate from a American Airlines jet after a left main wheels caught fire
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Watch as passengers and crew evacuate American Airlines Flight 3023, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, at Denver International Airport. The Miami-bound jet was forced… pic.twitter.com/RmUrXYj5Jp
American Airlines, in a statement, said that the aircraft ‘experienced a maintenance issue’ with a tire on the landing gear just before taking off. “All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team,” the airlines added.
The US aviation watchdog, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is investigating the incident which led to the fire after malfunction in the landing gear.