LEAKED VIDEO: 58-Second Cockpit Footage Shows Warning Light Flashing Just Before Both Engines Quit on Air India 171
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In an unprecedented aviation scare, a leaked 58-second cockpit video has surfaced online allegedly from Air India Flight 171, capturing the harrowing moments before both engines on the aircraft reportedly failed mid-flight. The video—surreal and tense—shows the calm professionalism of the cockpit crew juxtaposed with the growing alarm as a warning light begins flashing, alerting the pilots to an imminent systems failure.
The Video That Shocked the Aviation World
The grainy cockpit footage, which is being shared widely across social media and aviation forums, begins with routine monitoring and conversation between the pilot and co-pilot. The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was en route from London Heathrow to Mumbai when the incident occurred approximately 35,000 feet above Iranian airspace.
Thirty-five seconds into the clip, a shrill tone pierces the audio, and a flashing red light labeled “ENG FAIL” can be seen on the central panel. One engine, the port side, begins to show erratic readings—vibrations spike, fuel flow suddenly drops, and the N1 fan speed plunges to zero.
The pilots react instantly. “We have a fail on the left engine,” the captain says, calmly but with unmistakable urgency. “Shutting down.”
But the situation deteriorates rapidly.
Only ten seconds later, the right engine follows suit. The same alarm repeats—this time louder and accompanied by flashing master caution lights across the instrument panel. Both pilots exchange glances. The co-pilot mutters, “Both engines? No thrust…”
The remainder of the video shows the crew switching to emergency protocols, initiating a glide descent and broadcasting a Mayday to Tehran ATC, who responds with vectors toward the nearest possible airport.
A Chilling Echo of Past Incidents
While dual engine failure is extremely rare in modern aviation, the video has drawn comparisons to past incidents, such as US Airways Flight 1549’s miraculous landing in the Hudson River after a bird strike disabled both engines. However, the cause in Air India 171’s case remains unclear. There has been no official statement from the airline about what prompted the simultaneous failure, though speculation ranges from fuel contamination, software malfunction, or even a coordinated bird or debris strike at altitude.
Notably, the engines on the Dreamliner are among the most advanced in the world—either Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 or General Electric GEnx—built with fail-safes, redundancy systems, and real-time diagnostics that are meant to detect and mitigate such failures before they become critical.
The Crew’s Composure Praised
Aviation experts who reviewed the leaked footage unanimously praised the flight crew’s response. Captain Rajeev Thakkar, a former commercial pilot turned analyst, told an Indian news outlet, “You can see they immediately go to memory items. They’re calm, not panicking. That’s textbook airmanship.”
Despite losing both engines, the pilots reportedly managed to glide the aircraft more than 120 miles to an emergency landing at Bandar Abbas International Airport in Iran. All 237 passengers and 11 crew members on board survived without injury, though many were visibly shaken and required medical evaluation for shock.
One passenger, speaking anonymously, said, “There was a sudden silence… no engine noise. Just a dip in the cabin pressure and people started praying. We didn’t know what was happening. Later, we heard the pilots managed to glide the plane like a bird. They saved our lives.”
The Investigation Underway
India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), in coordination with Boeing and the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority, has launched an investigation. The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) have been secured and are being analyzed.
Officials are tight-lipped about what the initial findings are, though a preliminary report is expected within a few weeks. A DGCA spokesperson noted, “There appears to be no signs of fuel starvation or external impact, but we are still in the early phases. Nothing is being ruled out.”
Sources within Air India suggest that the aircraft had recently undergone routine maintenance and had no prior engine-related advisories. However, several engineers have been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
Public Reaction and Pressure on Air India
As the video spread across platforms like Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Telegram, public concern quickly mounted. Hashtags such as #AirIndia171 and #EngineFailure trended globally. While many lauded the pilots, others criticized Air India for not being transparent in the hours immediately following the incident.
Several advocacy groups and unions are calling for a full public release of the maintenance history of the aircraft and want Boeing to confirm whether similar issues have been reported elsewhere in the fleet.
Indian aviation watchdog groups have echoed these concerns. “It’s not just about one lucky escape. We need systemic reforms,” said Javed Mirza, an aviation safety advocate. “Every hour this goes unexplained is an hour of danger for others.”
Boeing’s Response
Boeing has issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming its cooperation with investigators. The company emphasized that the 787 Dreamliner remains one of the safest and most technologically advanced aircraft in operation.
“We are deeply grateful no lives were lost and commend the flight crew for their professionalism. We are actively supporting Air India and relevant authorities to determine what led to this rare and serious incident,” the statement read.
Passengers Return Home—Shaken but Grateful
After spending nearly 14 hours in Iran while the aircraft underwent preliminary checks, all passengers were transferred to another Air India aircraft and eventually made it to Mumbai. Many arrived visibly emotional, hugging family members and recounting the eerie quiet in the cabin when both engines went silent.
“I’ve flown dozens of times,” said Rahul Mehta, a tech entrepreneur returning from London. “But that was the first time I truly thought it might be the end. I owe my life to those pilots.”
Conclusion
The leaked video from the cockpit of Air India Flight 171 has ignited serious debate within the aviation industry. While the professionalism of the flight crew is being rightfully celebrated, the mystery surrounding the dual engine failure has raised urgent questions about aircraft safety, airline transparency, and contingency preparedness.
Until the full investigation concludes, what’s clear is this: Flight 171 could have ended in unimaginable tragedy. Instead, it ended with applause, relief—and a renewed spotlight on the fine line between disaster and deliverance in modern air travel.
