Updated: June 13, 2025 | Source: The Quick Update
Chennai: In the wake of the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash, aerospace expert and former Deputy Director of National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Saligram J. Murlidhar, has suggested fuel contamination as a potential cause of the catastrophic accident that killed 241 people.
Calling the incident “one of the most unfortunate in Indian aviation history”, Murlidhar emphasized the unlikelihood of technical failure in the Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, which is equipped with the most advanced safety and navigation features.
“The aircraft carried more than 35 tons of fuel and failed to gain altitude, indicating a major issue. The most likely cause could be fuel contamination, leading to simultaneous engine power loss,” Murlidhar told ANI.
🔍 Expert Analysis on the Crash
According to Murlidhar, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) will be critical in uncovering the root cause.
“First, the FDR’s memory card must be retrieved and mounted onto a functional unit to replay the data. Then, the CVR should be synchronized to determine crew communication before the crash,” he explained.
He ruled out the possibility of a bird strike, saying such events do not affect both engines simultaneously.
“Fuel contamination would explain uniform engine malfunction, reduced thrust, and the aircraft’s failure to climb,” Murlidhar added.
Crash Overview
The aircraft, piloted by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kundar, took off from Runway 23 of Ahmedabad International Airport at 1:39 PM IST (0809 UTC). Just moments later, the plane issued a Mayday call and crashed near the BJ Medical College hostel, erupting into a massive fireball.
Out of 242 people onboard, only one person survived. The passengers included:
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169 Indian nationals
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53 British nationals
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7 Portuguese nationals
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1 Canadian national
The tragic event has sparked nationwide mourning and urgent demands for aviation safety reforms.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q1: What is being suspected as the cause of the Ahmedabad AI-171 plane crash?
Aerospace expert Saligram J. Murlidhar suggests fuel contamination as a likely reason for both engines losing power simultaneously.
Q2: Was bird strike a possible reason for the crash?
No, the expert ruled out a bird strike since both engines would not typically be affected at the same time by such an event.
Q3: What are authorities doing to investigate the crash?
Authorities are retrieving and analyzing the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) to determine the technical causes behind the crash.
Q4: How many people were on board Air India Flight AI-171?
There were 242 people on board, including 12 crew members. Only one person reportedly survived the crash.
Q5: What kind of aircraft was involved in the crash?
The crashed aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, one of the most technologically advanced aircraft in the world.
Q6: Who was piloting the aircraft?
The flight was operated by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 flight hours) and First Officer Clive
