Air India plane crash: Over a fortnight after the fatal Air India aircraft disaster that claimed lives of all onboard except for a single survivor, investigators alongside the airline are analysing the possibility of simultaneous engine failures that may have caused the Boeing 787 aircraft to lose altitude and crash.Air India pilots have conducted simulations of the ill-fated flight's conditions in a simulator, testing scenarios with extended landing gear and retracted wing flaps. These simulations revealed that these configurations alone would not have resulted in a crash, according to sources close to the investigation quoted in a Bloomberg report.These findings, coupled with the earlier detection of an emergency-power turbine activation moments before impact, have strengthened the investigation's focus towards technical malfunction as a potential cause, sources said in the report.

Computer-operated systems known as Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) regulate modern aircraft engines. This technology assists pilots in managing aircraft power while ensuring optimal engine performance within specified operational boundaries.Also Read | Air India plane crash: 787 Dreamliner is Boeing’s flagship product - 10 things to know about aircraft model involved in Ahmedabad crashPrevious investigations revealed that prior to the crash, the RAT (Ram Air Turbine), an emergency turbine located at the aircraft's rear section, was deployed.

Although this device supplies crucial electrical power during system failures, its small size prevents it from producing any aerodynamic lift.Examination of the debris indicates that the wing flaps and slats, crucial components for enhancing aircraft lift during takeoff, were in their proper extended position. This incident stands as the most severe in Indian civil aviation history over multiple decades, and represents the first catastrophic loss of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The flight crew, who did not survive the incident, issued a Mayday distress signal moments after becoming airborne. According to two sources close to the investigation, approximately 15 seconds elapsed between the emergency call and the aircraft's impact. Representatives from Boeing and the US National Transportation Safety Board are present on site to assist with the investigative process.The timeline for authorities to release findings from the flight data recorders remains uncertain. These devices traditionally provide detailed information about aircraft configurations, operational parameters and flight deck communications.Also Read | Air India AI 171 plane crash in Ahmedabad: Flying has become safer over the decades; last 5 years safest since 2000