Preliminary reports suggest that Flight 171 may have suffered from improper aircraft configuration during takeoff. Experts noted that the plane’s landing gear was down, and its wing flaps appeared retracted—both unusual for a plane climbing out of the airport. This raises questions about pre-flight checks and maintenance procedures.
The Air India crash occurred just seconds after takeoff, with the plane issuing a “mayday” call before losing contact. The pilots had little time to react, suggesting that low-altitude emergencies may have overwhelmed them. Experts speculate that a bird strike, pilot error, or a flap misconfiguration could have contributed, highlighting the importance of pilot readiness for critical flight phases.
Lesson for South Africa: South Africa’s aviation training programs should emphasize low-altitude emergency scenarios, such as engine failures, bird strikes, or configuration issues, in simulator training. Pilots must be drilled on rapid decision-making during takeoff and landing, the most vulnerable phases of flight. Additionally, airlines like South African Airways and Comair should invest in crew resource management (CRM) training to improve communication and coordination in high-stress situations. The SACAA could also collaborate with international bodies like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to align training standards with global best practices.
India’s aviation sector has faced criticism for inconsistent enforcement of safety regulations, despite improvements in its ICAO safety ranking (48th globally in 2022). A 2019 ICAO audit flagged issues with India’s air traffic services and regulatory oversight, which may have contributed to systemic vulnerabilities exposed by the crash.
The Air India crash occurred near Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, where bird strikes are a known hazard. India’s history of crashes at airports with challenging topographies, like Mangalore and Kozhikode, underscores the need for robust risk management at vulnerable sites.
The investigation into Flight 171, led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau with support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch, will rely heavily on the plane’s black box data to uncover the cause. Past crashes, like the 1999 LAPA Flight 3142 in Argentina, revealed critical lessons about flap misconfigurations that led to global improvements in pilot training.
The Air India crash has reignited public concerns about Boeing’s safety record, particularly after whistleblower allegations about 787 Dreamliner assembly defects. Boeing’s leadership has faced scrutiny for prioritizing production over safety, a perception that could erode trust in aviation globally.
The Air India Flight 171 crash is a sobering reminder that even modern aircraft, operated by established airlines, are not immune to failure when systemic issues—maintenance lapses, pilot error, or regulatory gaps—go unaddressed. South Africa, as a key aviation hub in Africa, has an opportunity to learn from this tragedy and strengthen its safety framework. By investing in robust maintenance, pilot training, regulatory enforcement, and risk management, the SACAA and South African airlines can ensure that passengers board their flights with confidence.
