AI171 Crash: Neither bird hit nor landing gear, new theory of Ahmedabad crash emerges, the reason will surprise you
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The crash of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane in Ahmedabad has created a stir all over the world. All aviation experts of the world are now trying to find out the real reason behind this crash. After seeing the footage and facts that have come to light so far, most experts have ruled out the possibility of plane crash due to bird hit and landing gear. The new theory that experts are now holding responsible for this plane crash is called ‘air lock’. Actually, in aviation, air lock is a situation where air bubbles get trapped in the engine or fuel pipeline of the plane. Due to the air bubbles getting trapped, the flow of fuel in the engine and hydraulic system stops, which affects the performance of the plane. This bubble stops the supply of fuel, due to which the engine does not get power. As a result, the plane does not get thrust and instead of going up, it starts falling down. A plane like Boeing 787 has two engines and it can fly on one engine as well. But if the fuel supply in both the engines stops, then an accident is certain.
What happened in the Ahmedabad accident?
On June 12, 2025, Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, flight AI-171, flew from Ahmedabad to London. But just 36 seconds after takeoff, the plane collided with a medical college hostel, killing more than 270 people, including 241 passengers and crew members. Investigation revealed that the plane had made a ‘Mayday’ call, which is given in case of emergency. Some experts believe that air lock could be a possible cause of this accident.
How is an air lock formed?
If air gets trapped in the fuel tank or pipelines of the plane during maintenance, it can cause an air lock. Also, if air bubbles remain in the fuel system, the fuel supply to the engine may be disrupted. This may reduce the power of the engine or it may stop completely.
According to expert Captain Steve Sheibner, in the Ahmedabad accident, the plane’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was activated, which usually works when there is a problem in the engine or electrical system of the plane. In the Ahmedabad plane crash, this indicates that perhaps the fuel supply to both the engines had stopped, one reason for which could be air lock.
