Seat malfunction may have caused AI crash: Expert

Bengaluru, June 16 (UNI) Aviation expert Shaligram Muralidhar, who is a retired deputy director of the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), said on Monday a possible mechanical failure in the pilot's seat might have contributed to the recent plane crash in Ahmedabad, calling it an emerging theory in addition to the earlier suspicion of fuel contamination.
In an interview with UNI, Muralidhar explained that aircraft pilot seats are designed to move both forward-backward and side-to-side to ensure proper access to flight controls. These seats are held in place by a latching mechanism, typically secured by a pin.
'It is suspected that the locking pin may have been broken or defective. During takeoff, when the pilot applied full power, the seat might have slid backward due to acceleration. As a result, the pilot's hand, which was on the throttle lever, could have unintentionally pulled it back to idle,' he said.
This sudden reduction in power during the rotation phase of takeoff could have led to a catastrophic loss of thrust, preventing the aircraft from gaining the necessary lift, Muralidhar added.
He also recalled a similar incident involving a Boeing 737, where a seat malfunction during takeoff led to a throttle rollback. In that case, the aircraft sustained damage and had to be called back mid-air.
Emphasising that this remains a probable cause and not a confirmed one, Muralidhar said the actual sequence of events can only be established after analysing the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR).
'Only the DFDR data can confirm if the throttle lever was pulled back due to the seat movement. Until then, this remains one of the possible scenarios under technical scrutiny,' he said.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
UNI BDN PRS

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

NDTV

a day ago

• NDTV

Exclusive: How Air India Flight's Black Box Was Damaged And What Comes Next

New Delhi: The black box units from the wreckage of Air India Flight AI-171, which crashed 36 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 274 people, including 33 on the ground, have sustained damage. According to aviation sources speaking to NDTV, one of the black boxes is visibly more damaged than the other, likely due to a fall during or after the crash. Both the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), collectively referred to as the "black boxes", are currently in secure custody under the supervision of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Sources involved in the crash investigation told NDTV that a preliminary inspection shows external structural compromise, which, if not handled delicately, could risk internal data integrity. What We Know 1. Two black box units have been recovered - one unit is more damaged than the other. 2. A decision on what to do with the black boxes will be taken soon. 3. Options under consideration: The black boxes may be sent to a HAL facility near Lucknow, the NTSB in the United States, the Civil Aviation Authority in the United Kingdom, or to Singapore. 4. One of the black boxes has sustained damage to its outer surface. This damage occurred as a result of a fall. 5. The data on both the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) is stored in binary format. This data must be converted into an engineering format, after which information will become accessible. The interpretation of this data will form the basis of the crash report. 6. It remains unclear whether a preliminary report or a final report will be issued. 7. Investigators are concerned about opening the damaged black box due to the condition of its outer casing. 8. It is possible that data from the second, undamaged unit can be retrieved within India. 9. India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has stepped up randomised surveillance of relevant flights during the interim period. 10. The investigation will include analysis of debris samples and material samples from the surface of the runway. 11. Sabotage also needs to be ruled out. 12. Sources on the crash of AI-171 stated: "This is a mystery." What Is A Black Box The black box from the doomed Air India flight was recovered Monday, 28 hours after the crash. The 'black boxes' are actually bright orange in colour to help locate them from debris and wreckage. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) captures up to 25 hours of cockpit conversations, noise, radio calls with air traffic control, and audible alerts in newer aircraft models. However, AI-171 was operating a Boeing 787 delivered in 2014, prior to the 2021 mandate for 25-hour CVR storage. Therefore, the recorder likely had a two-hour recording capacity. The Flight Data Recorder (FDR), on the other hand, collects parameters such as altitude, airspeed, heading, vertical acceleration, and control surface movements, among others. In modern jets like the 787-8, FDRs can record thousands of parameters simultaneously and loop for over 25 hours. The Crash And Its Aftermath The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner registered VT-ANB, lifted off at 1:39 PM on June 12 from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, en route to London Gatwick. Less than a minute into the flight, the pilots transmitted a distress call citing loss of thrust. Radio contact was subsequently lost. Seconds later, the aircraft, carrying 242 passengers and crew, crashed into a residential area near Meghani Nagar, adjacent to the airport's northeast perimeter. It ignited a blaze on impact, damaging a medical college hostel and killing 33 people on the ground. The sole survivor, seated in 11A, is a British-Indian man who was thrown clear of the wreckage.

Time of India

2 days ago

• Time of India

‘AAIB to decide if AI 171 black boxes need t be sent abroad for analysis:' Govt

NEW DELHI: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will decide whether to send the black boxes — cockpit voice and flight data records — of the ill-fated Boeing 787 that crashed as AI 171 last Thursday abroad for analysis. 'The decision regarding location for decoding the flight recorders will be taken by AAIB after due assessment of all technical, safety, and security considerations,' a govt statement said Thursday. 'A multi-disciplinary team from AAIB has commenced investigation (into AI 171 crash) from June 12. The investigation has been ordered by DG, AAIB. US National Transportation Safety Board and original equipment manufacturer (like Boeing, GE) teams have arrived to assist AAIB as per ICAO protocols. A combined unit of the digital flight data recorder (DFDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was recovered from the crash site on June 13 and another set was found on June 16. This model of aircraft has two Blackbox sets,' The govt statement said. Meanwhile, Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Thursday held a meeting to review ground-level preparedness and passenger support mechanisms because of rescheduling of flights happening due to multiple reasons like post-accident checks, weather changes, closing of certain airspaces due to geopolitical tensions etc. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo While emphasising on safety, he directed airlines to address passenger issues swiftly; asked airports to have adequate food, drinking water, and adequate seating facilities. Airport directors were directed to reinforce wildlife hazard management, including the deterrence of birds and stray animals. Naidu also met top officials from SpiceJet, Indigo and Akasa on June 18 and 19. He reviewed fleet performance, safety oversight, passengers experience & convenience and airline communication strategy.

United News of India

2 days ago

• United News of India

Assam gas blowout: ONGC brings in experts from USA to plug leakage

Guwahati, June 19 (UNI) A team of experts from the USA will arrive in Assam's Sivsagar on Friday to plug the leakage of gas at the ONGC's oil well. An ONGC spokesperson said the team is likely to arrive in Friday evening and put in efforts to plug the leakage, which have led to temporary displacement of hundreds of families in Barichuk Vatipara village under Sivsagar district. He said the team has specialised expertise in controlling the gas blowout. The leakage happened at well no RDS 147 A at Barichuk Vatipara in Sivsagar district on June 12 and despite best the efforts of ONGC officials, the leakage is still continuing. "Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) continues to make concerted efforts to control the gas discharge from Well RDS 147A in Assam. Multiple junk shot operations using different combinations of materials and pressure ranges have been undertaken," the spokesperson said. ONGC has initiated the development of an alternate route to facilitate safe and efficient movement in and out of the well site. Further, bunk houses and non-essential equipment are also being removed from the vicinity. He said water blanketing operations are being maintained round-the-clock as a key safety measure. Preparations for the next phase of well control, including dynamic well killing strategies, are progressing steadily, he added. "Ambient air quality monitoring in and around the well site is being conducted continuously. All parameters, including Particulate Matter (PM) levels and gas concentration, remain well within permissible limits," he said adding that the PSU has been coordinating with experts both in the country and outside to end the crisis. Assam Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently visited the leakage spot and asked ONGC to take steps to contain the crisis at the earliest. He has also written to Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri seeking his intervention to end the crisis. The Chief Minister also visited more than 300 families who have been evacuated from the affected villages at the relief camps and announced financial assistance of Rs. 25000 to each of the affected families as immediate relief. UNI ANP SSP