Air India crash: Did dual engine failure cause the deadly AI 171 inferno? Simulator tests hint at possibility

Nearly three weeks after the devastating crash of Air India flight AI 171 in Ahmedabad, early indications suggest a potential dual-engine failure may have brought down the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation.

The June 12 crash, which killed 241 of the 242 people on board, has become one of the deadliest air disasters in India in decades. As the official probe continues, Bloomberg reported that airline pilots recently recreated the flight in a simulator, testing various flight configurations — including with the landing gear down and wing flaps retracted — to determine if those settings alone could have led to a crash.

The simulation, however, failed to replicate the catastrophic descent, reinforcing a technical fault as a likely factor, the report said.

Emergency turbine deployed before impact

The simulator test was conducted separately from the main inquiry led by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and was intended to help map out possible scenarios that could have led to the fatal crash.

Sources told Bloomberg that “an emergency-power turbine deployed seconds before impact,” a detail that has further strengthened suspicions around a possible systems failure.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787 powered by General Electric engines, struggled to gain altitude after takeoff, as seen in video footage reviewed by investigators.

Moments later, it plunged and exploded on impact. Bloomberg noted in its report that investigators are still trying to determine if both engines failed simultaneously — and if so, why.

Data retrieved from the plane’s black box is currently under analysis, with authorities yet to release an official readout.

In a particularly telling moment reported by Bloomberg, investigators observed that the aircraft’s landing gear had partially tilted forward, indicating the crew had initiated retraction.

However, the doors covering the gear had not opened, a malfunction pilots say could stem from hydraulic or electrical failure — again pointing to engine-related issues, as aircraft engines also power onboard electrical and hydraulic systems.

15 seconds between Mayday call and crash

There was an extremely narrow window — just 15 seconds — between the crew’s Mayday distress signal and the eventual crash, Bloomberg reported, quoting sources close to the investigation.

The RAT (ram air turbine), a small emergency fan deployed when electrical power is lost, had activated before the crash. While critical for powering essential systems in flight emergencies, the RAT is incapable of providing thrust or sustaining flight.

Further, experts examining wreckage found that the aircraft’s wing flaps and slats were deployed correctly, suggesting the pilots followed standard procedures during takeoff.

Worst Dreamliner crash to date

This is the first fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model widely used by international carriers. Teams from Boeing and the US National Transportation Safety Board are currently in India, assisting with the AAIB-led probe, Bloomberg said in its report.

While the investigation is still in its early stages, the emerging details — particularly the emergency turbine deployment, gear anomalies, and simulation results — suggest the possibility of a serious technical malfunction.

One source told Bloomberg, “a closer focus is on technical issues,” as the probe methodically rules out other possible causes.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)