Behind every tragedy, there must be a cause. Behind every accident, there are factors or circumstances that lead to it. Yet, even after nine days since the horrific plane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed 270 lives, investigators, technical experts, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation remain unable to pinpoint what truly led to the disaster. The aircraft had barely been airborne for a minute after taking off from Ahmedabad for London when it crashed into a building, turning into a fiery inferno. All that investigations have revealed so far is this: both engines of the aircraft simultaneously shut down due to a power failure. Although the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup emergency power system, was deployed, it did not have enough time to generate emergency power before the crash occurred. Everything ended within moments.

Initial suspicions focused on possible technical faults, design flaws, or negligence in engine maintenance. However, investigations so far have ruled out all these possibilities. Until it took off from Ahmedabad on the afternoon of the 12th, both engines of the aircraft had not shown even the slightest malfunction. The aircraft had undergone full system checks within the last two years, with its next comprehensive inspection due only in December. The right engine had received component replacements just three months ago, while the left engine was thoroughly inspected two months earlier. Of the 33 Dreamliner aircraft in Air India’s fleet, 30 have already been inspected, and no manufacturing defects were found. So what went wrong that day with just that one Boeing 787 on the London route? That question still lingers.

This unusual set of circumstances has led investigators to avoid ruling out the possibility of sabotage behind the crash. While the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has not confirmed any concrete evidence supporting this theory, they have also not dismissed it entirely. The investigation is currently examining whether an external signal—possibly from a device located near the airport—may have disrupted the aircraft’s electrical supply just one minute after takeoff, without any prior warning. The fact that all technical checks were completed before the flight, and the aircraft lost power to both engines shortly after becoming airborne, has intensified these suspicions. International media reports also highlight the extremely short distance the plane managed to cover after takeoff, further strengthening the theory that external interference might have played a role.

The aircraft’s black box — a critical component for determining the cause of any aviation disaster — was recovered, but the data within remains undecoded due to damage. While there were reports that the black box and cockpit voice recorder would be sent to the U.S. for detailed analysis, the Civil Aviation Ministry has clarified that no such decision has been finalised yet. If foreign assistance is necessary to decode the black box and determine what truly went wrong, then that step must be taken without delay. The real cause of this disaster must be uncovered — because ensuring the safety of air travel depends on it. After all, nothing ever happens without a cause.