The only person to survive the Air India Flight 171 catastrophe has provided investigators with crucial evidence about the moments before the aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad, claiming more than 240 lives.
Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who remarkably survived the disaster, told reporters from his hospital bed: "When the flight took off, within five to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air.
"Suddenly, the lights started flickering green and white. The aircraft wasn't gaining altitude and was just gliding before it suddenly slammed into a building and exploded."
His account of the cabin's electrical systems malfunctioning has become central to the investigation. Aviation specialists have interpreted the survivor's observations as evidence of electrical system failure linked to engine malfunction.
Ramesh has offered insight into what caused the crash of the Air India flight
Hindustan TimesDavid Learmount, consulting editor on safety at FlightGlobal and former RAF pilot, explained that the flickering lights suggested the generators producing electricity from the engines were malfunctioning.
Dr Guy Gratton from Cranfield University's aviation department said the lights "might indicate that the power systems were switching from primary to backups".
Learmount emphasised that electrical failure would likely result from engine problems rather than cause them, noting that "once the engines are burning, they don't need electricity".
The pilot's final transmission to air traffic control revealed the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had "no thrust", was "losing power," and was "unable to lift".
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The crash claimed the lives of over 240 people
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The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered Air India to conduct enhanced inspections across its entire 787-8 and 787-9 fleet equipped with GE engines.
The mandated checks include examining fuel monitoring systems, testing electronic engine controls, reviewing hydraulic systems and analysing take-off parameters.
Power assurance checks must be completed on each aircraft within a fortnight.
Dr Akhil Bhardwaj from the University of Bath described the DGCA's response as an "understandable abundance of caution".
Ramesh was spotted walking away from the Air India crash
NDTVLearmount stated: "More than one thing went wrong here. The thing that might have started it, and I think probably did, was a loss of power."
He questioned whether one or both engines failed, noting that "the failure of a single engine should not cause a crew to lose control of a modern airliner, even in the critical early climb phase".
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is engineered to climb and maintain flight with just one functioning engine.
While bird strikes remain a possibility, no evidence of bird activity has emerged from the crash site.
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