Former DGCA Flight Operations Inspector Captain Prashant Dhalla has cautioned against prematurely attributing the Air India flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad to pilot error. Dhalla, discussing the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), highlighted the possibility of a ‘startle effect’ influencing pilot actions following the reported deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT). He suggested pilots might have been attempting to manage the engines in response to potential technical issues. While acknowledging the possibility of human factors, Dhalla emphasized that it is too early to definitively conclude pilot error. He also pointed out the safety features of fuel switches, designed to prevent accidental shutoff, and the need for the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcript to be released to the public. Dhalla indicated that the pilots’ actions suggested engine-related issues and stressed the critical time constraints faced by pilots in such emergencies, especially at low altitudes.
