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Air India Flight AI171’s crash in Ahmedabad, in which more than 270 people died, is considered to be a possible cause ‘Air lock’. According to experts, the accident occurred due to the stoppage of fuel supply in the engine.
New theory of Air India Plane Crash was revealed. (File photo)
Highlights
- Air India flight AI171 crashed in Ahmedabad.
- The possible cause of the crash is considered to be ‘air lock’.
- More than 270 people died.
Actually, air lock in aviation is a situation where air bubbles get stuck in the engine or fuel pipeline of the plane. The fuel flow in the engine and hydraulic systems is stopped due to the air bubbles getting stuck, affecting the performance of the plane. This bubble prevents the supply of fuel, so that the engine does not get power. As a result, the plane does not get the thrust and it starts falling down instead of going up. Planes like Boeing 787 have two engines and can also fly on an engine. But if the supply of fuel in both the engines stops, then the accident is sure to happen.
What happened in the Ahmedabad accident?
On 12 June 2025, Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, Flight AI-171, flew from Ahmedabad to London. But just 36 seconds after the takeoff, this plane collided with a medical college hostel, in which more than 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew members, lost their lives. Investigation revealed that Plan had made a ‘Made’ call, which is given in the event of an emergency. Some experts believe that air lock may be a possible cause of this accident.
If the air gets stuck during maintenance in plane fuel tanks or pipelines, it can cause air lock. Also, if the air bubbles remain in the fuel system, then the supply of fuel to the engine can be interrupted. This can reduce the power of the engine or it can stop completely.
According to expert Captain Steve Shibner, Plane’s RAM air turbine (RAT) was activated in the Ahmedabad accident, which usually works when a plane engine or electrical system malfunctions. The Ahmedabad plane crash indicates that perhaps the supply of fuel in both engines had stopped, which could be a reason to air lock.
Anoop Kumar Mishra is Associated with News18 digital for the last 3 years and is working on the post of assistant editor. He writes on health, aviation and defense sector. He also covers development related to …Read more
Anoop Kumar Mishra is Associated with News18 digital for the last 3 years and is working on the post of assistant editor. He writes on health, aviation and defense sector. He also covers development related to … Read more
