In addition to experts divulging their opinions on what could have led to the deadly Air India plane crash, reports have disclosed the final words uttered by the leading pilot.
Video footage of Air India Flight 171 has raised serious questions among aviation experts, with former British Airways pilot Alastair Rosenschein pointing out anomalies in the aircraft’s configuration just before it crashed.
After reviewing the video, Rosenschein noted that the aircraft’s landing gear was visibly down during takeoff — something he described as “not correct,” as the gear should typically be retracted once the plane becomes airborne.
While he acknowledged that the footage is not crystal clear, he remarked that it appeared the aircraft did not have its proper take-off flap setting either.
Rosenschein further explained the critical role wing flaps play during takeoff. These flaps extend the wing’s surface area, helping generate extra lift at slower speeds and allowing the aircraft to climb effectively. Without the correct flap configuration, he said, it’s possible the aircraft would have struggled to maintain flight.
He suggested, albeit speculatively, that this misconfiguration “could explain why the aircraft came down,” reinforcing the idea that improper flap settings might have played a part in the tragedy.
Observations from the footage also indicated that the aircraft seemed to be descending rather than climbing during what should have been its ascent. “It does look like it’s an aerodynamic issue because of not having the right flaps [sic] setting on take-off,” asserted Rosenschein.
