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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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
