Air India Plane Crash:
The plane crash in Ahmedabad has shaken the entire nation. The aircraft, carrying a total of 242 people on a journey from Ahmedabad to London, included 230 passengers and a crew of 12, along with 2 pilots. Across the country, prayers are being said for the safety of those on board. However, experts suggest that it would be miraculous for any lives to be saved, as the plane typically has a full fuel load at takeoff.
What Happened in Those 8 Minutes?
This Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a large, 11-year-old aircraft. On Thursday afternoon, at 1:30 PM, it was on the runway preparing for takeoff. Satellite images indicated the plane was at the end of the runway by 1:38 PM, having already taken off. It climbed to 625 feet above sea level when it lost its signal. The airport itself is situated approximately 200 feet above sea level, meaning the plane reached about 400 feet above the airport. The signal remained active for about 8 minutes, before the plane crashed at 1:40 PM.
During this time, the plane descended at a vertical speed of 400 feet per minute (400 ft/min). The pilot had less than a minute to react.
Source: aajtak
More Altitude Could Have Meant More Time
Experts note that the aircraft was around 625 feet above sea level; at a higher altitude of 35,000 feet, the crew might have had more time to manage the situation, potentially saving lives. Among the passengers were about 52 British citizens, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian. However, the pilot had less than a minute to act in this disaster.
How Did the Plane Crash?
Aviation expert Dr. Vandana Singh suggested there might have been a miscalculation in the load factor. Additionally, the landing gear may not have closed properly, as part of a wheel was spotted stuck in a building, indicating a balance problem that could have led to the crash. Definitive answers will only come after a thorough investigation.
