In a significant development, U.S. aviation experts working alongside Indian authorities have identified the primary cause of the recent tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of 63 passengers and crew members in central India. The findings, released in a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in collaboration with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), point to a combination of mechanical failure and human error as the main contributors to the disaster.
According to the report, the aircraft, a twin-engine narrow-body jet operated by a major Indian carrier, suffered a critical malfunction in its left engine shortly after takeoff. While engine failures are not uncommon and aircraft are generally designed to operate with a single engine in such scenarios, investigators revealed that the failure was caused by a rare defect in the turbine blade assembly. This defect led to a sudden power loss, triggering multiple warning signals in the cockpit.
However, the mechanical issue alone did not seal the fate of the flight. The investigation highlights that the flight crew may have misinterpreted some of the onboard alarms during the emergency, leading to a series of incorrect control inputs. Instead of stabilizing the aircraft and initiating a return to the departure airport, the pilots reportedly began a steep ascent followed by a sharp bank, which ultimately resulted in a stall and uncontrollable descent.
Contributing further to the tragedy was the weather. Experts noted that visibility was significantly reduced due to low cloud cover and light rain, complicating the already high-pressure situation in the cockpit. The NTSB emphasized that such high-stress scenarios can often overwhelm even experienced pilots, particularly when technical issues occur shortly after takeoff—widely considered the most critical phase of flight.
The report concludes with a set of recommendations for both the airline and the wider aviation industry. These include mandatory checks on turbine blade components across similar aircraft models, enhanced pilot training for engine-out scenarios, and improved cockpit alert systems to reduce confusion during emergencies. While the final report is still months away, these initial findings offer a clearer picture of what went wrong and serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between man and machine in modern aviation.
