As investigations continue into the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, the global aviation community is grappling with more questions than answers. The Boeing 787, one of the most technologically advanced commercial jets, went down shortly after takeoff, killing 270 people on board and leaving one survivor. The cause remains officially undetermined, but theories, observations, and expert opinions are surfacing fast.
Among the most vocal commentators is Captain Steve Scheibner, a veteran pilot and flight instructor, who has shared a compelling breakdown of what he believes happened in those final seconds. But even he acknowledges that the data is still emerging, and the possibilities are vast.
Theories Abound: What Could Have Gone Wrong?
In the early hours after the crash, the most common assumption was pilot error. Some speculated that the crew may have mishandled the flaps during takeoff or prematurely retracted them, leading to a loss of lift. Others believed the aircraft never gained proper thrust and failed to climb beyond 450 feet, well below the safe altitude for departure.
But now, the focus is expanding. Could it have been a bird strike? So far, no evidence supports that theory—there were no bird remains on the runway or signs of engine ingestion. What about fuel contamination? That remains a possibility, especially if water or debris in the fuel tanks affected both engines simultaneously. Another angle is a potential malfunction in the electronic engine control system. With modern aircraft relying heavily on FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control), a software or sensor failure could result in engines not delivering the required thrust.
Mechanical or structural failure hasn’t been ruled out either, though no midair breakup signs have been found. In short, the list of possible causes is long, and no single theory has yet been confirmed.
Captain Steve’s Theory: Dual Engine Flameout
Captain Steve Scheibner, known in aviation circles for his clear technical analysis and calm demeanor, released a video that’s now gaining traction across pilot forums and aviation news channels. Initially, Steve believed it could’ve been a flap issue. But after closely examining new video and audio recordings, he changed his mind.
One detail stood out—a small, rapidly spinning turbine visible beneath the aircraft’s fuselage in the crash footage. That turbine, Steve explained, was the ram air turbine (RAT), which only deploys when both engines lose power and traditional systems fail. Audio analysis further supports this theory: a high-pitched whine consistent with RAT operation can be heard in the final seconds of the flight. Combined with the survivor’s account of a loud bang and flickering cabin lights, Steve believes the plane suffered a dual-engine flameout shortly after takeoff.
“I didn’t want to believe it at first,” he said in his breakdown. “But when you hear that RAT spinning—and see it with your own eyes—it becomes undeniable. That airplane had lost its engines. It was flying on backup power.”
Still, Steve emphasizes that his theory is based on limited data. “Until the flight recorders are recovered and analyzed,” he cautioned, “we’re all just trying to make sense of what we can see and hear.”
What We Know for Sure—and What We Don’t
Here’s what has been confirmed so far: the aircraft failed to gain proper altitude and never retracted its landing gear. The RAT appears to have deployed. A Mayday call—yet to be verified—was heard, possibly stating: “Thrust not achieved… Mayday, Mayday!” The lone survivor reported a loud bang and brief power loss before the crash.
What we don’t know is why the engines failed—if they did. Was it due to fuel contamination? Was it an engine system malfunction? Could it have been a cascading failure involving automation? Was pilot error a contributing factor? Did the crew recognize the problem in time?
These are the questions authorities and investigators will work to answer with the help of the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR), which are still being recovered.
Proceeding with Caution
Until the full investigation plays out, all expert opinions—including Captain Steve’s—remain speculation. This crash is a stark reminder that even the most advanced aircraft are vulnerable when multiple systems go wrong in unison.
Steve Scheibner’s analysis, while detailed and persuasive, is just one of many perspectives trying to piece together the mystery. “In aviation,” he noted, “the chain of events is rarely simple. It’s always a combination of things that leads to disaster.”
Authorities are urging the public and media to avoid jumping to conclusions. As one aviation safety expert put it: “The simplest explanation is often wrong. Patience saves lives. Rushing leads to more tragedy.”
