Hot Topic #8: Air India 787 Crash — Unpacking the Tragedy, Theories & Safety Concerns

Welcome to Hot Topic #8 on the Black Box Aviation Podcast with your hosts Tom & Mike, where we break down the latest and most pressing events in aviation. Today’s episode takes a hard look at the tragic Air India crash involving a Boeing 787 that went down on June 12th shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London.

We examine:

• The sequence of events captured on video, including the unusually high angle of attack, gear still down, and ultimate impact beyond the runway.

• Possible causes ranging from flap/slat misconfiguration to mechanical failures, and even a misstep in gear vs. flap retraction during the critical “positive rate” phase.

• New, unconfirmed technical details including a dual engine rollback possibly linked to monsoon-induced electrical failure via the Ground Power Unit (GPU) housing — and the implications of RAT deployment in such a scenario.

• We explore Air India’s history, from its Tata family roots and bureaucratic past to its recent privatization struggles, safety record, and operational culture.

Plus:
✈️ A quick primer on flaps, slats, takeoff calculations, and how high-stakes decisions get made in just seconds at rotation.

🚨 This is an evolving investigation — we’ll continue to report as more verifiable information becomes available.

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