Emergency Power Suspected as Cause of Deadly Air India Crash

Investigators believe the catastrophic Air India plane crash may have been caused by the aircraft running on emergency power.

The terrible incident last Thursday claimed the lives of 270 people, leaving just one survivor amongst the 242 passengers, when the Boeing Dreamliner met its tragic fate in Ahmedabad, India after being airborne for a mere 40 seconds.

A formal investigation is underway to uncover the root cause of the disaster, with some evidence pointing towards the use of an emergency generator as the airliner’s primary source of power at the time of the crash.

Speculation is rife over a possible dual engine failure, but what precipitated such an event remains unclear.

Adding to the heartbreak, British families mourning loved ones lost in the crash are grappling with “pain and frustration” amid setbacks in the identification process and difficulties repatriating their family members.

Anguished relatives of Akeel Nanabawa, his spouse Hannaa Vorajee, and their four year old daughter Sara Nanabawa — all casualties of the devastating crash — have voiced feelings of being

“utterly abandoned” by UK authorities and are earnestly appealing for increased assistance in India, reports the Mirror.

Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer addressed the Commons, stating that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) had established a reception centre at a hotel near the airport “because we thought that would be the best place to receive British nationals rather than the hospital where, tragically, there are no living British nationals”.

He added: “But we keep these questions under review, as I know from my own experience in tragedies like this, it is difficult to get the assistance that British nationals need right first time, and we will learn lessons as each step goes through.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Among those feared to have been onboard the ill-fated Gatwick-bound flight were several Britons including Arjun Patoliya, who had gone to Gujarat from London with his late wife’s ashes.

Identified among the victims were Derby’s radiologist Dr Prateek Joshi and Wellingborough’s Dhir and Heer Baxi, Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, as well as Raxa Modha, Rudra Modha and K Mistri.

The UK’s air accident investigation team is currently in India, providing their expertise to the local authorities, according to the Government’s announcement.

A Foreign Office spokesperson stated: “Our staff continue to work around the clock in the UK and India to support the families and loved ones of all those impacted by the crash.”

We have set up a reception centre at the Ummed Hotel, near the Ahmedabad airport, and have a dedicated helpline to provide support and advice for the families and friends of British nationals – friends or family should call 020 7008 5000.

“If you are in India, you should call +91 (11) 24192100 for support, including through in-person consular staff who are available to support families of British nationals, including accompanying them to the hospital.”

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch has also dispatched investigators to assist in the Indian-led probe, and UK forensic experts are on hand to aid the consular response.