Air India Crash Theories: Gaurav Taneja Says ‘Pilots Know Something The Public Doesn’t’

Following the Air India Flight 171 tragedy, YouTuber and ex-pilot Gaurav Taneja suggests flight cancellations hint that pilots know more than the public.

Aviation YouTuber and ex-pilot Gaurav Taneja weighs in on Air India Flight 171 crash, stoking debate with his latest remarks.

Source : Instagram

Gaurav Taneja, who flew commercial jets for over a decade before becoming a content creator, has released multiple videos on his YouTube channel dissecting possible causes of the crash. One prominent theory he has explored is that of a dual engine failure, combined with potential overloading and late takeoff.

In one of his videos, he pointed to the unusual use of runway space. “The first shocking information we got our hands on was the fact that the aircraft consumed more runway than normal. This convinced me that I was going in the wrong direction… The aircraft was close to the maximum takeoff weight, which is 2.20-2.25 tonnes,” he explained.

He further speculated, “If both engines had failed, the aircraft wouldn’t have taken off at all. But even with one engine down, it took more runway than expected,” though he noted that these ideas were speculative and unproven.

Engine Condition and Aircraft History Under Scanner

Adding to the ongoing conversation, Taneja shared new technical insights in his latest video. “There are a lot of speculations and a lot of theories. But the fact that I know so far is this particular aircraft, this specific tail…has a clean history,” he stated.

Offering more detail, he added, “As for the engines, the right engine was a new engine put in March 2025. The left engine was last serviced in 2023 and due for its next maintenance check in December 2025. Both engine histories are clean.”

Diverse Opinions in Aviation Circles

Another aviation content creator, Captain Steeeve, had initially speculated that pilot error could be a contributing factor. After receiving criticism from his viewers, he clarified his position, acknowledging that multiple issues, including high temperatures during takeoff, might have compounded the situation. He, too, explored the dual engine failure theory, albeit with a different interpretation.

Interestingly, in a later update, even Taneja acknowledged the possibility of pilot error playing a role.

As the nation awaits official findings from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), independent voices like Taneja and Captain Steeeve continue to shape public discourse on what might have gone wrong that fateful afternoon.