A new high-definition video may explain why an Air India Boeing 787 crashed into buildings shortly after takeoff, killing over 270 people. Only one passenger survived.
Aviation expert and pilot Steve Schreiber believes the footage shows a critical detail: the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT)—a backup device that activates when both engines fail or there’s a major electrical or hydraulic issue.
Schreiber points to a small grey dot beneath the aircraft, identifying it as the RAT. This, along with the plane’s failure to climb beyond 450 feet and a distinct engine noise in the video, suggests a dual engine failure just after takeoff.
The crash claimed nearly all 242 passengers on board, plus dozens more on the ground. The pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, was hailed a hero for steering the plane away from an apartment building, likely saving dozens of lives before the jet exploded on impact.
The second black box—containing cockpit voice recordings—has now been recovered. It’s expected to provide a clearer picture of the final moments, including the desperate mayday call:
“Thrust not achieved… falling… Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!”
Investigators are now analyzing both black boxes to confirm what led to the deadliest air disaster involving British passengers since 9/11.
