Clearest View Yet Emerges from Enhanced Video
A student’s phone video may be the biggest clue in what caused the deadliest Indian aviation crash in decades. New footage by Aryan Asari appears to show the deployment of the RAT — a turbine that activates only when primary and backup power systems fail, reports Indian Express. Experts say this suggests a grave emergency: possibly total electrical loss or even both engines failing.
Newly enhanced footage of Air India Flight AI171 has provided the most compelling evidence yet that a catastrophic dual engine failure occurred just seconds after the aircraft departed from Ahmedabad. The 18-second video shows the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)—a last-resort device triggered only in the event of a complete power loss.
“This isn’t just speculation anymore. The RAT deployed, and that alone changes everything,” said aviation analyst Captain Steve, who reviewed the new footage.
What the RAT Means
The RAT is a small wind-driven turbine that automatically extends from the aircraft to generate emergency electrical and hydraulic power when both engines fail. In the video, the RAT is clearly visible and even audible—a distinct high-pitched whir, described as sounding like “a little Cessna flying by.”
“It’s rare to catch a RAT in action,” said Captain Steve. “For it to appear so low after takeoff is a clear sign something failed drastically.”
Adding to the growing body of evidence is the testimony of a lone survivor. Seated in 11A, the passenger recalled hearing a loud bang and seeing the cabin lights flicker moments before impact—symptoms consistent with RAT deployment.
Competing Theories Revisited
Initially, theories ranged from incorrect flap settings to accidental premature retraction of the flaps. But the latest analysis is shifting the conversation.
“I was leaning toward pilot error,” admitted Captain Steve. “But with the RAT visible, audible, and an eyewitness confirming electrical disturbance, I’ve changed my view. This was almost certainly a dual engine failure.”
Other dismissed theories included bird strikes and fuel contamination. Aviation Herald reported no evidence of birds on the runway and suggested pilot error was unlikely.
Government Orders Inspections
In response, India’s aviation authority has ordered immediate inspections of all Boeing 787 Dreamliners operated by domestic carriers.
While the cause of the engine failure remains undetermined, officials stress the move is precautionary.
Still No Clear Cause
Despite the clarity surrounding what happened after takeoff, the why remains elusive. Investigators await data from the flight recorders, which may reveal whether fuel quality, sensor failure, or another factor led to the simultaneous loss of both engines.
“This gives us clarity on the sequence of events,” said Captain Steve. “But we’re back to square one on why it happened. For two engines to flame out on a 787—it’s baffling.”
As experts await the black box data, the aviation community is left grappling with unsettling questions about what went so catastrophically wrong aboard Flight AI171.
Watch the videos here:
@metrouk An aviation expert says new footage that has emerged of the Air India flight AI171 shows the aircraft lost power shortly after take off. Commercial airline pilot Steve Schreiber said the new, clearer video shows ‘dual engine failure’ before it crashed last week, killing 241 passengers. In a video on his YouTube channel, Captain Steve said he could see a ‘protrusion on the belly of the aircraft’ beneath the right wing of the plane and underneath this a ‘grey little dot’. He says this means that the Ram Access Turbine (RAT), which is a small turbine that is used as an alternate power source, was deployed on the plane shortly before it crashed. #airindia #worldnews #airplane #planecrash
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
Did the Sole Survivor of London-Bound AI171 Switch His Seat?
From Goodbyes to a Missed Departure: The Lives Changed by AI171
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