Exclusive | Air India Plane Crash Through Expert’s Lens: What Could Have Happened?

By Surabhi Gupta

New Delhi: In one of the worst aviation tragedies in India's recent history, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 people on board crashed just moments after taking off from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, bursting into flames and colliding with a doctors' hostel on the airport premises.

The doomed Flight AI-171 was bound for London Gatwick Airport. Passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven of Portuguese nationality, one Canadian, and 12 crew (including two pilots). The Air India aircraft went down within minutes of departure.

In an exclusive discussion with ETV Bharat, Sharda Prasad, former commissioner of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and a subject expert on civil aviation security in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, provided a technical analysis of how things could have possibly gone wrong.

Hot Weather and Loss of Thrust

One of the most plausible technical causes identified by Sharda Prasad was extremely high runway temperature. “When the temperature is very high, then thrust is not generated,” he explained.

“Jet engines rely on air density for optimal thrust, and hot air is less dense, reducing engine performance during takeoff. This environmental factor, combined with full fuel tanks for a long-haul international journey, may have compromised the aircraft's lift capacity. Unfortunately, nothing could be done. It took only 2 or 3 seconds after the 'Mayday' call for the aircraft to come down. There was no time at all. The entire aircraft was on fire, and the heat was so intense that most of the passengers were completely charred,” he added.

“The aircraft was full of fuel. Many people will doubt whether the aircraft was overloaded. Fortunately, it was a Dreamliner, which means a capacity beyond 300, but there were only 242 passengers,” said Prasad.

“As far as the passenger load is concerned, including the load of luggage, it was not a problem. The only problem today was hot air. That means the entire runway was having a very high temperature. When the temperature is very high, thrust is not generated. That’s why this problem happened,” he added.

What is a Trim Sheet and Why It’s Crucial

Prasad pointed to another overlooked but vital factor - the trim sheet. This document outlines the aircraft’s total weight, distribution and load adjustments based on weather and runway conditions.

“Trim Sheet is a document that records the load configuration of the aircraft adjusted for weather conditions. When there is a very large amount of heat present or the temperature is too high, the load is less. So we check it before giving the green signal to the aircraft,” he said.

Given the extreme heat, it’s possible that the takeoff weight needed reduction, which may not have been fully optimised. The crash inquiry will scrutinise this data to assess whether the aircraft was balanced and within safe operating limits.

What is a Mayday Call?

A Mayday call is a distress signal, a telegraphic emergency alert. “Mayday call is a call for help. It’s just a button. The pilot gave the Mayday signal and would have been given priority landing. However, in this case, the call was followed almost immediately by the crash, giving no time for intervention. The speed of events suggests catastrophic failure occurred within seconds,” Prasad explained.

Elaborating on the emergency infrastructure in place at Indian airports, he said, “The BCAS-mandated security is for the airport only, that means it is located within the perimeter. If there is an accident outside the perimeter, BCAS security doesn't apply there. The control tower immediately informs the local police, BCAS, and hospitals. Rescue and firefighting operations begin within seconds, though reaching the accident site can take 10 to 12 minutes, depending on the locality.”

Ahmedabad’s airport reportedly activated its internal Safety and Security Committees as per standard protocol. Firefighting vehicles positioned along both sides of the runway and at takeoff endpoints were deployed rapidly. However, as Prasad noted, once the aircraft leaves the perimeter, the role of airport security diminishes, and the onus shifts to local and state disaster management forces.

What is the Black Box and Why Does It Matter?

The black box, a common term for the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), is a critical tool in investigating aviation accidents. These instruments record every detail of the flight, including altitude, engine performance, control inputs and pilot communication.

With flames engulfing the aircraft on impact, the priority for responders has been rescue and relief. “There will be a priority for rescue and relief operations. We have to visit the place and see if anybody can be rescued. And if there are injured people, they will be sent to the hospital. If there is a body, that too has to be properly kept and catalogued,” Prasad stated.

He added that black box recovery will come later. “Black Box may not be the immediate priority because, in any case, most of the time, the black box will be saved. So they will coordinate the area and allow only the ambulances and the rescue team to come, and prevent outsiders from entering.”

What Happens after the Crash?

Once an aviation disaster occurs, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) takes charge of the probe. “Earlier, it was part of DGCA, but now it's a separate Bureau. The AAIB’s job is to determine the cause and recommend safety improvements," he said.

Meanwhile, safety and security committees within the airport are immediately activated, ensuring restricted access to the site to prevent tampering and to prioritise body identification, medical assistance, and debris clearance. “Cataloguing has to be done, and rescued individuals are sent to the hospital, black box analysis comes later,” said Prasad.

Aircraft Hit Residential Structure; Local Rescue Was Delayed by Location

The aircraft reportedly struck a hostel used by resident doctors, situated just outside the airport perimeter. Prasad clarified the jurisdictional limitation of airport security saying, “The BCAS-mandated security is for the airport only, that means it is only for within the perimeter and not outside. So if there is an accident which is outside the perimeter of the airport, then straightaway BCAS-mandated security doesn’t apply there.”

He added that although rescue alerts go out immediately, physical response takes time. “Most of the time in such cases, the tower comes to know immediately. They have a hotline to the BCAS itself, local police, and a few hospitals on the list. Rescue operations, firefighting, whatever is required, is started immediately, maybe around 10 to 12 minutes.”

"Firefighting readiness inside the airport perimeter is usually robust. Whenever an aircraft is taking off, both sides of the runway are covered by firefighting vehicles. In case something happens inside, then certainly they will be of help,” Prasad added.

On-Site Protocol and Safety Committees

"Whenever an aircraft is taking off the runway, both sides and end points are covered by firefighting vehicles. Although all of these protocols were in place and running smoothly, it wouldn’t be enough if an aircraft crashed outside the perimeter," he noted.

Plane Hits Medical Hostel; Chaos ensues on Ground

The plane crashed right into a hostel facility that housed the resident doctors and MBBS students from BJ Medical College, and of course, chaos ensued. Witness videos showed smoke and flames above the impact area, less than 3 km from the airport perimeter.

Dr Dhawal Gameti of the Resident Doctors Association told reporters, “Around 50-60 MBBS students are admitted and everyone is stable, but 4-5 students are missing and 2-3 are in HDU and ICU. Three medical students could not be saved."

He also added, “Around 3-4 relatives of super specialist resident doctors are missing right now, and the wife of one doctor has been found dead.”