LEAKED VIDEO: 58-Second Cockpit Footage Reveals Warning Light Flashing Before Both Engines Quit on Air India Flight 171
A leaked 58-second cockpit video from Air India Flight 171, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, has surfaced, providing a chilling glimpse into the final moments before the tragedy that claimed 260 lives. The footage, reportedly showing a warning light flashing just before both engines quit, has intensified scrutiny on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, its General Electric GEnx-1B67 engines, and Air India’s maintenance practices. This article analyzes the leaked video, its implications, and the broader context of the ongoing investigation, drawing on avilable information to piece together what may have happened aboard the ill-fated flight.
The Leaked Cockpit Footage: What It Reveals
The 58-second video, allegedly recorded from the cockpit of Air India Flight 171, captures critical moments during the aircraft’s takeoff roll and initial climb. According to sources familiar with the footage, a warning light begins flashing on the cockpit instrument panel, signaling a potential issue. Moments later, both engines are reported to have quit, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust. The co-pilot’s voice, previously revealed through the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) as saying, “We’re going down” 18 seconds before impact, aligns with the timeline of the video, suggesting that the engine failure occurred in the final seconds of the flight’s brief 30-second airborne phase.
The warning light’s significance is a focal point. In modern aircraft like the Boeing 787, warning lights are tied to the Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) system, which alerts pilots to anomalies such as engine malfunctions, hydraulic failures, or electrical issues. The specific nature of the warning light in the video has not been publicly confirmed, but speculation points to possibilities such as an engine failure alert, low oil pressure, or a fuel system warning. The sudden cessation of both engines, as depicted, is consistent with reports of a “loud bang” heard by the sole survivor and the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup power system that activates during major electrical or engine failures.
The video also reportedly shows the pilots’ attempts to respond to the crisis. The captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, issued a mayday call seconds after takeoff, reporting “no thrust, losing power, unable to lift,” according to posts on X. The footage likely captures the crew’s efforts to troubleshoot the issue, possibly including attempts to retract the landing gear, which remained partially deployed, as evidenced by external videos showing the gear in a tilted position. The failure to fully retract the gear suggests an interruption in the hydraulic or electrical systems, potentially linked to the engine failure.
Context of the Crash
Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, took off from Ahmedabad Airport at 13:38 IST on June 12, 2025, bound for London Gatwick with 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Just 30 seconds after takeoff, the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 625 feet (190 meters) before rapidly descending and crashing into a hostel block in Ahmedabad’s Meghani Nagar neighborhood. The crash killed all but one passenger, along with 19 people on the ground, and injured at least 60 others.
CCTV and eyewitness footage, including a 17-second clip filmed by a teenager, showed the aircraft struggling to gain altitude with its nose pitched up and landing gear partially down before it hit the ground, causing a massive explosion. The sole survivor reported hearing a loud bang and feeling the plane “hang mid-air” before the crash, with cabin lights shutting off and emergency green lights activating, consistent with a sudden loss of power.
Both Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs), which combine the functions of the CVR and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), were recovered from the wreckage by June 16 and sent to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) lab in Delhi for analysis. The leaked video, while unverified, aligns with the timeline and findings from these recorders, particularly the co-pilot’s statement and the RAT deployment, which indicates a severe electrical or engine failure.
Theories and Possible Causes
The leaked footage has fueled speculation about the cause of the engine failure, with several theories emerging based on available evidence and expert analysis:
Dual Engine Failure: The video’s depiction of both engines quitting is highly unusual, as dual-engine failures are exceedingly rare in modern aviation. Experts note that the Boeing 787 is designed to fly on a single engine, with redundancies like the RAT and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to maintain critical systems. A simulation conducted by Air India pilots in Mumbai failed to replicate a dual-engine flame-out due to electrical failures, suggesting that such an event at low altitude (below 400 feet) would be nearly impossible to recover from. The absence of visible bird carcasses or smoke in external footage reduces the likelihood of a bird strike, despite Ahmedabad Airport’s reputation for bird activity. Fuel contamination, another potential cause, has been raised but lacks supporting evidence, as the aircraft’s fuel tank was nearly full.
Electrical or Hydraulic Failure: The RAT’s deployment, visible in external footage as a “small gray dot” beneath the wing, indicates a total loss of electrical or hydraulic power, possibly triggered by the engine failure. The partially retracted landing gear suggests an interruption in the retraction sequence, potentially due to a loss of hydraulic power. The warning light in the cockpit could have signaled an electrical issue, such as a failure in the engine-driven generators or a fault in the aircraft’s electrical system. Some have speculated about a switch left in the wrong position, increasing electrical load during gear retraction, though this remains unconfirmed.
Flap Configuration Issues: Initial theories suggested that improper flap settings may have contributed to the crash, as flaps and slats are critical for generating lift during takeoff. However, wreckage photos and video analysis indicate that the slats were extended, suggesting that flaps were likely deployed correctly, as the Boeing 787 automatically extends slats when flaps are activated. While a flap malfunction was considered, the presence of extended slats and the simulation results—where a single engine with improper flap settings still allowed a climb—reduce the likelihood that flaps were the primary cause.
Pilot Error or Maintenance Issues: Posts on X have raised the possibility of a pilot seat sliding error due to unlocked pins, though this is speculative and unsupported by verified evidence. Air India’s maintenance regime is under scrutiny, with the Indian aviation regulator noting coordination issues but no major safety flaws in the airline’s Dreamliner fleet. The aircraft’s right engine was newly installed in March 2025, and the left was last serviced in 2023, with both having clean histories.
Implications for Boeing, Air India, and Aviation Safety
The leaked video has significant implications for Boeing, Air India, and the broader aviation industry. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, in service since 2011 with over 1,000 units delivered, had a near-spotless safety record until this crash, marking its first fatal incident. A systemic issue with the 787 or its GEnx engines could have far-reaching consequences for Boeing and General Electric, prompting heightened inspections and potential groundings. Air India has already canceled 66 Dreamliner flights and reduced international widebody operations by 15% for safety checks, with 26 of its 33 Dreamliners cleared as of June 18, 2025.
The video’s leak raises concerns about the security of crash investigation data, as cockpit footage is typically confidential and restricted to investigators. Its release could complicate the AAIB’s work, led by Indian authorities with support from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and UK experts. The investigation, expected to produce a preliminary report within 30 days, will focus on the FDR and CVR data, engine condition, and maintenance records to corroborate the video’s findings.
Public sentiment, as reflected on X, shows panic and speculation about Boeing’s manufacturing and Air India’s maintenance practices. These concerns are amplified by the crash’s high death toll and the emotional weight of the co-pilot’s final words. The aviation industry faces pressure to restore confidence, particularly as the 787 is a mainstay for many airlines. The absence of a grounding order suggests that investigators do not yet see a systemic flaw, but the final report, due within 12 months, will be critical.
Conclusion
The leaked 58-second cockpit video from Air India Flight 171 offers a harrowing window into the moments before the crash, with a flashing warning light and sudden engine failure underscoring the severity of the emergency. While the footage aligns with other evidence—such as the RAT deployment, the partially retracted landing gear, and the co-pilot’s final words—it raises more questions than answers. Was the engine failure due to a mechanical fault, fuel issues, or an electrical anomaly? Did maintenance lapses or human error play a role? As investigators analyze the black box data and wreckage, the aviation world awaits clarity on this tragedy. For now, the video serves as a stark reminder of the challenges of ensuring safety in modern aviation and the profound human cost when systems fail.
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