DREAMS SHATTERED BY DREAMLINER

Nine days have elapsed since anxious and perturbed nation saw the most devastating crash of flight number AI-171, Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London, on Television.

Track Record of Dreamliner

Track record of this Boeing manufactured, wide bodied awfully expensive aircraft has been far from satisfactory not only in India but elsewhere too. As a result, its supplies had to be paused a couple of times. It has been gathered that President Trump of the USA himself is coming in defence of the ‘Monopolistic’ manufacturer.

Possible Causes

As per information culled out so far, due to apparent multiple technical snags in the ill fated aircraft, including some serious engine related deficiencies and blocking of passage of turbine fuel, the tragic incident seems to have taken place.

It has been further learnt that DGCA (Directorate General Civil Aviation) had served 15 Show Cause notices to Air India in this regard asking it to rectify the deficiencies. As no reply was received, last such notice is reported to have been served in the first week of June, 2025.

Though record of correspondence between DGCA and the airlines is not known, it is presumed that some corrective measures would have been taken by now.

Mystery Behind Black Box

The Black Box (actually orange in colour) having Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder has been found. However, data inside is yet to be deciphered as some parts have been damaged by excessive heat. It will have to be taken to USA since data extraction is not possible in India. Hence, it may take another month or two.

Some aviation experts, however, are of opinion that any deficiency does not mean that aircraft can not fly.

Experienced & Competent Commander

It is being mentioned that given the seniority and experience (8,200 flying hours) of 56 year old Captain Sumit Sabharwal, he may have exercised full control and patience in those critical 40 seconds. He may have also thought it wise to turn the plane towards K.G. Medical College and Civil Hospital area, rather than close by residential colonies, which have an estimated population of not less than 25,000. Thus according to this theory, number of dead was drastically reduced.

DGCA, in the meanwhile have ordered reducing height of buildings in the vicinity of Ahmedabad airport on priority.

Dead men do not speak, so, let us hold on to this logic, for the time being.

Death Toll

The fatal plane crash has taken lives of 242 passengers and crew and 34 persons on ground. Many MBBS students tried to save themselves by jumping from their second and third floor rooms. Several people on ground, some being petty shopkeepers, received grievous injuries and a few of them succumbed to these, later.

Due to its scale of destruction, Ahmedabad air crash has become a very engaging topic for public discussion after Pahalgam massacre and Indo-Pak conflict, especially for those who have no work.

Clearance of Debris

Rescue and relief work on the one hand and identification of bodies based on DNA samples, on the other, is proceeding but its pace would have to be accelerated.

Remarkable steps taken by local administration and able support of SDRF, NDRF and CRPF is showing some shreds of optimism.

When it comes to nittie and grittie of investigation, Why an American agency, probably FAA has been involved, is not understood ? Our agencies and DGCA is fully competent and experienced to handle the prevailing tense & complicated scenario. However, data extraction of the Black Box will have to be done necessarily in a Lab of USA.

Average Indian In Grip Of Avoidable Technology

Rapid expansion of Civil Aviation industry, supported by mobile telephony, Laptop, Internet, expressways and upcoming automobiles are playing havoc with the life of ‘richi rich’ Indians. They display unrealistic ambition and consequent official commitments. But they refrain from sparing any quality time for the spouse or family of procreation. Their health suffers in the process and by the time they seek Specialised Medicare, it is too late. Contact with family of orientation is, in a way, also non existent or ruled out, altogether.

Such lifestyles are abated by the forays through aircrafts. Access to these are ensured by pressing a button or two at home or work place. No need to have possession of a physical ticket. What you book on line, becomes a sure ‘pass’ for your train or air journey.

You do not realise that this unusual world of OnLine, slowly makes you Off Line from your family and close circle. And a day comes when willingly or unwillingly, you buckle down to pressure.

Identification of The Dead

Reverting to most deadly air crash, one is rightly taking note of Ramesh Vishwas Kumar, the lone British survivor who gave shoulder to his deceased brother Ajay’s body, deep agony of Pushker Raj, father of Capt. Sumit Sabharwal, the Koni Vyas family of five from Banswara which was on the brink of a new life in U.K., Nanabawa family of Surat who lost three family members, a woman Army officer paying her last respects to her dead Armyman husband etc.

As elsewhere in such tragic circumstances, dead bodies are identified through DNA testing of blood relatives. In view of bodies being charred by temperature of over 1600 degrees Fahrenheit, one can imagine the herculean task of Dr.Jayshanker Pillai, a Forensic Odonotologist and his dedicated team.

Thus far 215 bodies have been handed over to relatives subsequent to DNA matching and identification. The flight had 13 children under the age of 12. This includes three, who were below the age of two. Several others were between the ages 11 & 18. Extraction of DNA of minor victims is done by extracting their tooth, mostly molar one. Thus only partial DNA profiles are available in respect of some bodies.

Not All Can Be Identified

One is sure that some of the dead bodies may not be identified as their addresses would be difficult to be ascertained. This writer vividly recalls the Charkhi Dadri mid air collision of 1996 in Haryana, wherein many dead bodies could not be identified as several passengers had given fake addresses. Mind it, those were not the days of Aadhar Card. Needless to say, such persons were going to Middle East countries in search of employment.

Sad Case Of Two Manipuri Crew

How many of us are aware or shedding tears for Nganthoi K.Sharma and Lamnunthiem Singsong, two brave Crew members from Manipur who also sacrificed their lives ? Its sad to note that in their own troubled state, their bodies were being looked at on the basis of their belonging to two different social groups of Meitei and Kuki-Zo. It is happening in view of highly tense and charged atmosphere of the state for over two years.

While the state authorities had no difficulty in carrying the body of N.K.Sharma to Thoubal District, Kuku-Zo leaders were apprehensive about taking body of L. Singson to Imphal or through any area dominated by the Meiteis.

State had made preparations to transport the body of L.Singson to Kangpokpi. An influential Meitei body had also announced its full cooperation.

The family of late L. Singson, however, chose to take the dead body from Dimapur airport of Nagaland for onward transportation to Kangpokpi. It has been learnt that no Meitei household fell along this route.

Issue Of Compensation

Air India is likely to receive an amount of 80 to 115 million dollars as compensation for the lost aircraft. But the Chairman of the carrier has announced an amount of Rs.One Crore for dead passengers and free treatment to all the injured.

In view of the fact that both Ahmedabad airport and Air India are in private hands, though latter has announced payment of compensation, the former is maintaining golden silence so far, true to their past dismal record.

Also it has been stressed that compensation amount is too meagre in view of the jolt suffered by the families due to death of head of family or other members. Also most of these families belong to higher financial strata of society. For them this amount is peanuts. It is high time, therefore, that this amount is raised to Rs Three Crores.

Surge In Air India Ticket Cancellations

Air India operates 70 international flights on a daily basis.The Ahmedabad crash is adversely affecting both reputation of Air India as also its ticketing. As people are avoiding purchase of its tickets, the airline has offered steep discounts.

Tickets for Paris and Amsterdam are being offered at 50% of what Air France and KLM are charging. Chicago ticket is being offered at 30% lower rates vis a vis other airlines, while for Hongkong, tickets are being offered at one fourth of the normal fares of many international airlines. For discounted fares of New York and London, too there are a few takers.

TO SUM UP,

A not to be forgotten tragedy has happened at Ahmedabad. Some more Air India planes had to be rescheduled or return to their take off points after the episode owing to technical flaws. It has been learnt that wide bodied aircrafts would not be used for the time being.

Should it not STOP ?

Such mishaps disturb peace and conscience of all individuals, apart from giving a set back to the aspirations of many a young mind, related to the deceased. Memories of dear departed are bound to haunt for a long time.

Corrective measures taken after such gory incidents generally have an insignificant impact. These once again clearly reflect our dependence on a few foreign powers and their plane manufacturing companies who are guided mainly by materialistic considerations. One may ask if we have begun making small fighter and transport planes, why can’t we try our hand at making passenger planes ?

Remedial steps will have to be taken on priority and indiscriminately to prevent recurrence of such fatal incidents in future. Also the pilots and the crew have to be inculcated more of service intent rather than being immune to discomforts & agonies of the passengers.

(The author is former Chief Secretary, Sikkim)