Air India Plane Crash: 'There Is No Sorry in Aviation'- Ex-DGCA Inspector on AI-171 Crash | ABP NEWS

Captain Prashant Dhalla, former Flight Operations Inspector with DGCA, shared expert insights into the Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad. Speaking on the tragedy, he emphasized the grave responsibility aviation professionals carry—transporting children, the elderly, and the sick safely to their destinations. He explained that the aircraft involved, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in service since 2014, is among over 30 of its kind with Air India. Notably, this marks the first fatal crash involving a 787. Initial reports suggested a shortened takeoff, but further research confirmed the aircraft took off using the full runway as per SOPs. Captain Dhalla pointed to two primary causes—loss of thrust and evolving SOP and training frameworks post-Air India’s merger with Vistara and others. Captain Sabarwal, piloting the aircraft, made a rare "Mayday" call indicating loss of thrust—a situation where the engines fail to provide adequate power. The Dreamliner climbed to 600 feet before rapidly descending. Both the captain and co-pilot had significant cockpit hours and were highly trained. Dhalla stressed that aviation leaves no room for error due to the split-second decisions involved, adding, “There is no sorry in aviation.” Investigations are ongoing, but the incident highlights critical concerns in engine reliability and training protocols.