More than 200 people were on board the doomed Air India flight when it crashed shortly after take-off.
The Tata Group, which bought the airline three years ago, has been trying to improve operations at a time of great change in India’s aviation market. The carrier’s previous fatal accident, before the one on Thursday, was in August 2020.
According to the airline, 242 passengers and crew members were on board the current flight.
Air India added: “Of these, 169 are Indian nationals, 53 are British nationals, one Canadian national and seven Portuguese nationals.”
In the aftermath, it has been revealed that things went badly very quickly for the passenger plane as authorities have confirmed that the plane crash-landed only four miles away from the airport after only reaching a height of around 625 feet.
Footage posted to social media showed the aircraft rapidly losing altitude before it hit a building and exploded into a ball of fire.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 near Ahmedabad, which claimed over 200 lives.
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Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “Saddened by the tragic crash of Air India flight near Ahmedabad today. We extend our condolences to the families of the victims grieving this immense loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.”
British Aviation Expert Points Out Issues With Air India
Former British Airways pilot Alastair Rosenschein had an interview with Sky News to give his expert opinion on what he saw with the doomed passenger plane.
Rosenschein pointed out some clear issues that he says may have contributed to the plane failing to take off properly.
He said: “It’s clearly got its [landing] gear down, and that is not correct.”
“It should have been up. And from the video… it’s not immensely clear… but it does look like the aircraft didn’t have its take-off flap setting.”
Rosenschein also spoke on the importance of the wing flaps and how they need to be set correctly to extend the shape of each wing and ultimately give the plane the extra lift needed at lower speeds to take off and climb.
Here’s footage of the takeoff:
Not wanting to face backlash over his statement, he made it clear he was only speculating that this could have been a factor.
However, similar takes from other aviation experts have also surfaced online.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the plane crash, and determining the final cause could take months.
