The Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad, killing 241 people on board, is under investigation. Initial reports suggest a sudden electrical failure shortly after takeoff prevented the aircraft from reaching a safe altitude.

The authorities are probing the reason behind the crash of the Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London on June 12 that killed 241 out of 242 people on board. According to a News18 report, officials who are familiar with the probe suspect there was a sudden power failure just moments after the flight took off and it probably brought the plane down, resulting in its crash into a medical hostel building after going up just 625 feet.

The final reason will be known after decoding the black box, initial assessments of several things ATC reports, videos of takeoff, and patterns of wreckage indicate the aircraft’s main electrical system’s failure which took place within seconds of takeoff. It failed to gain the minimum altitude needed for an emergency turnaround or make use of its Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup system which supplies power to critical functions when there is a total electrical loss.

Authorities have recovered the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) currently has them. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said that local authorities have extended full support to the probe and that key recovery works have been completed. Also, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has clarified there there is no final decision yet on whether the black boxes will be sent abroad for probe.

The Indian Express said in a report quoting an officer aware of the ongoing probe that there was no cockpit error as per early investigations. Rather, the pilots possibly tried to gain manual control but failed due to lack of altitude. The plane could gain an altitude of only 625 feet, far below the safe path minimum of 3,600 feet. If it managed to gain an elevation of around 3,600 to 4,900 feet, then things could have been different. Also, the investigators are probing the technical logs and maintenance records of the aircraft from 24 to 48 hours before the crash. Also, they are examining if fuel contamination led to power failure.

According to UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which is now in Ahmedabad to help with the probe, concluded during the February 2020 incident at London’s Gatwick Airport that fuel system contamination caused it. Notably, the Ahmedabad crash is the first time a Boeing 787 Dreamliner has crashed. It has raised several questions including fuel quality verification, pre-flight inspection protocols, and last-mile maintenance checks.

An unusually long take-off roll has emerged as a key concern in the investigation into the Air India flight that crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, killing at least 270 people. The Dreamliner used the airport’s entire 3.5-kilometre runway far more than the typical 2.5 to 3 kilometres needed for such aircraft before lifting off, reports TOI.

No prior warnings were issued before take-off. “There were no requests for runway changes, thrust modifications, or flap adjustments. Weather conditions were stable, visibility was clear, and though temperatures were high, they remained within operational limits,” an airport source told TOI, suggesting the flight proceeded under normal parameters until the fatal incident unfolded moments after take-off.

Just 17 seconds into the flight, the aircraft began to descend. Seconds later, a chilling final transmission crackled over air traffic control: “Thrust not achieved… falling… Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” It was the last desperate call from the cockpit before the plane plunged into the BJMC hostel and erupted into flames, fuelled by over 125,000 litres of aviation fuel. Ahmedabad police confirmed the distress call after reviewing ATC records.

Unusual take-off roll raises alarm

Aviation officials and experts are now closely examining why the aircraft required the full length of the runway. Preliminary assessments suggest inadequate engine thrust could have delayed lift-off. Experts quoted by The Times of India also raised the possibility of flap configuration issues, though there were no official changes to runway operations, engine settings, or flap adjustments, according to media reports.

What the investigation has found so far

Airport CCTV footage confirms the extended take-off roll. No visual anomalies, engine failure indicators, or abnormal pitch movements were observed by ground staff or ATC. All pre-flight communication and protocols were reportedly followed.

There was no fire or explosion visible before the crash, ruling out an in-flight fire in the immediate moments after take-off. The aircraft’s descent occurred swiftly, ending in the catastrophic collision that has left investigators and aviation authorities scrambling for answers.

Key theories under probe

While official findings are awaited, investigators are exploring three primary lines of inquiry:

Engine thrust issues: A possible failure to generate adequate thrust during take-off.
Flap malfunction: Improper deployment of wing flaps could have impacted lift-off dynamics.
Security breach or sabotage: The involvement of anti-terror squads suggests that external interference or foul play has not been ruled out.