The Air India flight AI-171 tragedy has reignited concerns around safety oversight, emergency handling and regulatory transparency in India’s aviation sector. While investigations are ongoing, early observations provide insights that merit the attention of industry and policymakers.

Video footage showed a plume of dust kicked up as the aircraft became airborne, an unusual sight during normal take-off. The sole survivor’s account says he heard a loud bang, raising the possibility of an engine malfunction. In a normal situation, the aircraft would have taken a lot less runway length to get airborne using the powerful GE Trent engines. The stress on the crew to manage an emergency during a critical phase of flight would have increased considerably.

Another concern is that the landing gear remained extended during the climb. Leaving the gear down significantly reduces climb performance, especially critical if thrust is compromised. Whether this was due to........

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