Air India training pilots have used a simulator to attempt to recreate the final moments of the crashed Air India flight AI-171
The devastating crash of Air India flight AI-171 near Ahmedabad on June 12 claimed the lives of more than 260 people and remains shrouded in mystery, as investigators continue to search for answers surrounding the unexplained engineering failure that brought the Boeing 787 Dreamliner down moments after takeoff.
In a bid to understand the cause, Air India training pilots have conducted intensive simulations using a Boeing 787 simulator in Mumbai. These simulations aimed to replicate a variety of failure scenarios—such as engine flameouts, electrical system breakdowns, and asymmetric thrust conditions—to determine why the aircraft failed to gain altitude.
To maintain accuracy, the pilots matched the plane’s weight and balance precisely using the original flight’s trim sheet. They also recreated critical conditions like a single-engine failure with the landing gear extended and flaps retracted—both of which are known to impact a plane’s climb performance. Despite these efforts, none of the scenarios led to a total loss of climb capability in the simulator.
“The aircraft still managed to climb under every simulated condition,” a source close to the investigation said. This inability to replicate the failure has prompted investigators to consider an extremely rare and catastrophic possibility: a dual-engine failure at low altitude—a situation that would leave pilots with virtually no time to recover.
Although India’s aviation minister has cautioned against jumping to conclusions, the unusual nature of the incident has intensified scrutiny on the engines and onboard systems.
Black box data and other flight recordings are currently being analyzed and are expected to play a crucial role in piecing together the final moments of the ill-fated flight. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary report, expected soon, could shed light on what triggered one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
Disturbing Pattern Emerges
Adding to concerns about Air India’s fleet safety, another aircraft—flight AI-187 from Delhi to Vienna—suffered a serious incident less than 36 hours after the AI-171 tragedy. During its climb, the Boeing 777 unexpectedly lost nearly 900 feet of altitude, setting off stall warnings and “Don’t Sink” alerts from the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS).
Though that aircraft eventually stabilized, the similarity of both events—rapid altitude loss shortly after takeoff—has raised red flags.
As the aviation community awaits the official findings, the double incidents have ignited urgent calls for a broader review of aircraft maintenance, flight crew procedures, and systemic oversight within the airline.
