After the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, which killed 270 people, many experts are sharing their thoughts on what might have caused it. The investigation is still ongoing, but in the past week, many Air India flights have been canceled.
Popular YouTuber and ex-pilot Gaurav Taneja, also known as Flying Beast, has been actively speaking out on the issue. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), he suggested that pilots might be aware of something serious that the public doesn’t yet know. He said many pilots are now refusing to fly, reporting sick, or grounding planes if they notice problems.
He wrote:
“Air India pilots are reporting issues, grounding planes, and refusing to fly if they feel it’s unsafe. Pilots are the front-line staff, and they know something the public doesn’t.”
On his YouTube channel, Taneja has talked about various theories behind the crash. One of them is the dual engine failure theory. He said the plane took off later than planned and used more runway than usual, which could mean one engine failed during takeoff. According to him, if both engines had failed, the plane wouldn’t have taken off at all. But he also added that he doesn’t have solid proof for these claims. He also raised the possibility that the plane was overloaded.
Read more: No Faults Found, Yet 275 Lives Lost — Air India CEO Responds Dreamliner was well-maintained
Another YouTuber, Captain Steeeve, suggested pilot error could have been a factor in the crash. Although some people criticized him for saying this, he later clarified his view. He too talked about the possibility of engine issues and said the high temperature during takeoff may have also played a role.
Meanwhile, Tata Sons and Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran stated in an interview that the plane had a “clean history.” He said one of the engines was brand new, installed in March 2025, and the other was last serviced in 2023 and scheduled for maintenance in December 2025. According to him, both engines were in good condition and there were no known issues with the aircraft.
As of now, the official investigation is still ongoing, and no final cause has been confirmed.
