Following the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad this afternoon, YouTuber and former commercial pilot Gaurav Taneja—popularly known as Flying Beast—shared his thoughts on the possible cause of the incident. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Taneja speculated that a major technical failure, such as a dual engine failure after takeoff, might have led to the crash. “Nothing short of a complete power loss can force a modern aircraft into such a rapid descent right after takeoff. Praying for everyone on board,” he wrote.
When asked by a follower about the likelihood of such a failure, Taneja responded that it is “extremely, extremely, extremely rare,” adding that a pilot has little to no chance of recovery if both engines fail at around 600 feet with obstacles ahead.
In another comment, he expressed disbelief, saying, “It’s shocking to see a wide-body aircraft go down like that. This is every pilot’s worst nightmare.” Reflecting on simulator training exercises, he noted that even during simulated dual engine failures, pilots often lose control, only to have instructors pause the simulation to demonstrate the situation. “Can’t even imagine this happening for real,” he added.
Taneja, who spent over a decade flying commercially before becoming a full-time content creator, is widely respected for his aviation insights and has previously commented on real-world incidents, such as a recent IndiGo flight to Srinagar that had to fly through dangerous weather after being denied entry into Pakistani airspace.
The crash has left the nation in shock, with social media flooded by reactions ranging from disbelief to grief. Public figures, celebrities, and influencers, including Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda, and Riteish Deshmukh, have extended their prayers and condolences to the victims and their families, adding to the outpouring of national mourning.
