Tragic Turbulence: Air India Flight AI‑171 Skidded Down
Picture this: a bright morning, an aircraft prepped for jet‑play, a crisp sky above, and then—oh, the drama— the plane simply decides to ground itself just 10 minutes after leaving the runway. Tragically, that crash left 219 souls aboard, including 169 Indians, 53 Brits, a lone Canadian, and 7 Portuguese.
Why the Sky Won’t Wait for You
According to aviation know‑knows and a former top pilot, Captain Saurabh Bhatnagar, the aircraft’s descent might’ve spiked from one of two big suspects: a flurry of birds and sudden engine power loss.
- Bird‑barrage blunder: Picture a flock of feathered fighters flaring at the jet’s engines. If multiple birds slam into the main thrust, the plane’s lift can snap like a rubber band. “If there were multiple bird hits at take‑off, it probably couldn’t have gone beyond the 6‑7 minute mark,” Bhatnagar told NDTV.
- Power‑down panic: Even a single engine glitch can turn a soaring aircraft into a hovering drooping drama. “The aircraft starts descending—only possible if it loses power or can’t sustain lift,” he added.
Emergency in the “Ascent” Phase
By all accounts, the fatal slip happened during the most critical phase—just moments after the plane was supposed to be sky‑high. “The take‑off was perfect and right—just short of pulling the gear up,” one analyst said. That slight hiccup, paired with possible engine distress, turned a routine flight into a tragic tale.
Wrapping Up the Investigation
For now, investigators are spinning through data and ravens‑looking reports to figure out the exact cause. As the world watches, we hope for more than a headline: a safe path forward, lessons learned, and an attempt to heal the many families who lost loved ones.
