Experienced pilot analyzes cause of Air India crash that claimed 270 lives
A seasoned commercial aviator has uncovered what he believes could be a significant development in understanding the tragic Air India Boeing 787 crash that claimed the lives of 241 individuals on board and at least 29 on the ground. Analyzing fresh and clearer video footage with audio from the aircraft shortly before the accident, veteran pilot Steve Schreiber, known as “Captain Steeeve” on YouTube, shared his insights in a video uploaded to the platform.
Schreiber has honed in on the potential cause as he observed the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deploying during the aircraft’s final moments. Describing the mechanism, he likened it to a small Evinrude motor with a two-bladed prop situated behind the wing on the right side of the airplane. The RAT, Schreiber explained, serves as a crucial backup system to supply electrical and hydraulic pressure during emergencies.
Delving into the details, the experienced pilot outlined that a few scenarios could trigger the deployment of the RAT, including significant electrical failure, hydraulic failure, or dual engine failure. He emphasized that encountering any of these issues would prompt the mechanism to activate. Pointing to a screenshot from the video, Schreiber highlighted a distinctive feature that signaled the deployment of the RAT, underscoring its importance in understanding the events leading up to the catastrophe.
Further examining the audio captured in the video, Schreiber identified a distinct sound produced by the spinning RAT, likening it to a propeller airplane passing by or a high-pitched squeal. This auditory evidence, according to him, corroborated the operations of the RAT during the critical phase preceding the crash.
With over two and a half decades of flying experience under his belt, Schreiber postulated that the Boeing 787 likely suffered dual engine failure shortly after takeoff, leading to the devastating sequence of events. Citing the proximity of the crash site to the airport and the nature of the aircraft’s descent, he inferred that both engines might have malfunctioned, echoing the notion of dual engine failure.
Schreiber further connected Vishwas Kumar Ramesh’s firsthand account of the incident to his analysis. Ramesh, who miraculously survived the ordeal, recalled the aircraft struggling to gain altitude, stalling midair briefly, and then suddenly plunging into a building and exploding. This narrative aligned with Schreiber’s belief in the occurrence of dual engine failure, with Ramesh attesting to a loud bang and flickering lights within the cabin moments before the crash transpired.
The culmination of Schreiber’s evaluation, supported by both visual evidence and survivor recollections, highlights the critical role that the RAT and the suspected dual engine failure might have played in the tragic Air India Boeing 787 crash. As investigators continue to piece together the final moments of the ill-fated flight, insights from experienced professionals like Schreiber shed light on the intricate complexities underlying aviation safety and accident investigations.