[By Guancha Observer Network, Ruan Jiaqi]
On the afternoon of June 12 local time, an Air India Boeing 787 passenger aircraft rapidly crashed after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport in western India. There were 242 people on board the ill-fated aircraft, which was bound for London, UK. According to the latest data released by Indian police, this accident has caused at least 265 deaths. Only one person survived.
According to a Reuters report on June 12, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau stated at a press conference on Thursday that they had reviewed videos related to the Indian plane crash and found no immediate safety data requiring an immediate grounding of the Boeing 787 fleet.
Duffy said he had spoken with Jennifer Homendy, Chairman of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Next, a team consisting of NTSB and FAA personnel will travel to India under the support of Boeing and engine manufacturer General Electric Aerospace.
"They must arrive at the scene for field investigation. It is still too early to draw conclusions. People are now watching videos, trying to analyze the cause of the accident, but making accident determinations solely based on videos is neither reliable nor wise," he said.
US Transportation Secretary Duffy (left) and Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau (right). CNN video screenshot
Duffy revealed that as part of the crash investigation, the FAA is jointly reviewing relevant information with Boeing and General Electric.
He also emphasized that the US government "will not hesitate to implement any safety recommendations that may arise. We will follow the facts and prioritize safety."
Rosheleau also stated that during the investigation process, once any risk-related information is obtained, the US side will immediately take measures to reduce risks.
Duffy added that the FAA "is ready to deploy more resources to obtain the necessary data to ensure the safety of air travelers."
On the same day, Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Nayudu posted on social media X that after the plane crash, the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a formal investigation according to international agreements formulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In addition, the Modi government is forming a high-level committee composed of multidisciplinary experts to conduct a detailed review of this incident.
According to reports by CNN, in addition to India and the US, aviation officials from the UK are also dispatching investigators to assist in the investigation of the plane crash.
Mary Schiavo, former Inspector General of the US Department of Transportation, told CNN that India will lead the investigation of this accident as the main party, and according to established procedures, other relevant countries can provide support. In addition, Boeing and companies manufacturing aircraft electronics and control systems may also participate in the investigation.
Schiavo pointed out that since the flight destination was London, the UK will participate in the investigation, and other countries with citizens aboard the flight will also join. Previously disclosed by Air India, among the 242 people on board, there were 169 Indian citizens, 53 British citizens, 1 Canadian citizen, and 7 Portuguese citizens.
"The investigation will gather a large amount of experience and expertise to determine the cause of the accident." She explained as a CNN aviation and transportation analyst, "Through extensive previous experience, as well as treaties and legal provisions, the operation process of international aircraft accident investigations has become very mature."
The notice from India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation mentioned that before the aircraft crashed, the pilot sent a distress signal to the air traffic control shortly after takeoff. Schiavo said that investigators will strive to recover the "black box" or flight recorder to further understand the details of the accident.
In discussing data recovery efforts, Schiavo said, "India is a major aviation power and experienced; they have experts who can complete this work."
Schiavo also pointed out that takeoffs and landings are stages with higher accident rates because the operations required during airport takeoffs and landings themselves carry danger.
"The airport environment places more pressure on pilots, air traffic controllers, and aircraft," she said, "so takeoff and landing operations must never be taken lightly. Pilots will undergo repeated training to handle potential malfunctions that may occur during these critical moments."
Dennis Tajer, spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, which represents approximately 15,000 American Airlines pilots, also explained that pilots need to perform numerous checklists to complete these operations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stipulates that during takeoff, when the aircraft is below 10,000 feet, all nonessential conversations or activities are prohibited.
"It is crucial to focus entirely on one thing, and that is controlling the aircraft, from takeoff to taxiing," Tajer said, "During actual takeoff flight, the aircraft is heavier and needs to accelerate from a standstill to the speed required for sustained flight."
Zhang Zhonglin, a columnist for the Observer Network and an airline industry commentator, said that this is the first air disaster involving a Boeing 787. From the circulating video footage of the crash, the landing gear was not retracted and the flaps were not extended, which is unreasonable. The aircraft may have lost power after leaving the ground, but whether it was due to human factors or mechanical issues remains inconclusive.
Zhang Zhonglin pointed out that India's aviation safety record is not good, but production quality issues with the Boeing 787 have also been exposed. "Boeing 787 production has all been transferred to the North Charleston plant, known for its low worker qualifications and poor product quality."
Zhang Zhonglin said that Boeing announced at the end of May that production quality had significantly improved, and it plans to increase the production of 737 MAX to 47 per month, with very optimistic market sentiment and a surge in stock prices. However, the occurrence of this 787 crash will deal a heavy blow to Boeing just as it claims to have emerged from the shadows.
"Indian Airlines' ambitions have been severely affected."
After the accident, Air India changed its website from bright red to a somber gray-black tone, and hung a banner with the flight number of the ill-fated aircraft, "AI-171", on the homepage.
Reuters reported that this disaster will not only plunge the airline into its "most severe crisis" but will also deal a heavy blow to its efforts to rebuild its brand reputation and update its fleet.
"For an airline, the correlation between brand image and safety reputation is crucial. This accident will impact its brand." Dilip Cherian, co-founder of public relations company Perfect Relations and communication consultant, said.
According to Reuters, since Tata Group took over Air India two years ago, this historic airline has embarked on a multi-billion-dollar revival plan. CEO Campbell Wilson declared his intention to transform the company into a "world-class airline that can rival competitors like Emirates Airlines."
However, upon taking over, Wilson found that the entire company was "in shambles," and some of Air India's aircraft had not been refurbished since their delivery in 2010-2011.
In recent years, Air India has ordered 570 new aircraft and negotiated additional orders for dozens more. But worsened by capacity constraints at Boeing and Airbus, delayed aircraft deliveries have seriously hindered its modernization efforts. Data shows that Air India has been forced to extend the service life of older planes, causing maintenance costs to soar, and both fleet renewal and route expansion plans have been obstructed.
In an interview in March, Wilson responded with helplessness: "We are powerless against this. Like all airlines, we are passive recipients." He emphasized that under capacity constraints, "smarter aircraft allocation strategies" must be adopted, prioritizing high-yield routes, which means postponing some market expansion plans.
According to data submitted by India's Ministry of Civil Aviation to parliament in March, Air India holds a 30% share of domestic passenger traffic, with a fleet of 198 aircraft, of which 27 aircraft are 10-15 years old and 43 aircraft are over 15 years old. Subsidiary Air India Express owns 101 aircraft, of which 37% are over 15 years old.
According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft involved in the crash on Thursday was 11 years old, while the models operated by Indian budget carriers such as IndiGo are generally newer.
Meanwhile, many chronic problems of Air India remain unresolved, including long flight delays (averaging nearly 46 minutes in 2024), frequent passenger complaints, parts shortages, and persistent financial losses.
Vibhuti Deora, a former legal expert of the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, pointed out, "Updating the fleet and optimizing maintenance should become the survival foundation of Air India. Given its turbulent safety history, they must attach great importance to standardized maintenance."
In the past decade, India has experienced multiple accidents: in 2010, during the government-controlled period, a Boeing 737 taking off from Dubai ran off the runway at an Indian domestic airport and fell into a canyon, resulting in 158 deaths; in 2020, another aircraft of Air India Express slid off the runway, causing 21 deaths.
Now, this more serious aviation disaster has suddenly struck, casting a thick shadow over Air India.
"This is a difficult day for all employees of Air India," Wilson said in a video address. "The investigation will take time."
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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515266318237532708/
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