Another detail raises serious questions about Air India Flight 171 crash

Nearly a month after the devastating crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad, a preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has shed light on another detail that’s now raising serious questions: the landing gear lever was found in the ‘DOWN’ position post-crash.

While that may seem routine at first glance, aviation experts are now examining whether this seemingly minor detail may have played a crucial role in the plane’s failed takeoff and tragic descent, according to reports.
So, what exactly is the landing gear lever — and why does its position matter?

The landing gear lever is a fundamental cockpit control that allows pilots to either extend (DOWN) or retract (UP) the landing gear, which includes the aircraft’s wheels and support structure. During takeoff and landing, having the gear extended is normal — it provides the required stability and support while on the runway. But once the aircraft lifts off, standard procedure is to retract the gear to reduce aerodynamic drag and allow the plane to climb more efficiently.

In this case, the AAIB’s findings include a photograph taken post-crash showing the lever still set to “DOWN.” This discovery is now under intense scrutiny.

Why? Because if the gear wasn’t retracted shortly after takeoff, it could have significantly impaired the aircraft’s climb performance, slowed its speed, and increased fuel consumption—critical factors in the event of a simultaneous emergency, like the engine failures reported in this crash.

While mechanical failure, pilot oversight, or procedural delay could all explain why the gear was not retracted, the consequences of this detail are potentially serious. In emergency aviation scenarios, every second and every kilogram of drag matters. An extended landing gear could compound problems during a power loss and drastically limit the pilot’s options.

Adding to the mystery, cockpit voice recordings revealed confusion among the pilots regarding the engines shutting down moments after takeoff. If the gear lever was intentionally left down as a precaution due to engine concerns — or if it was simply forgotten — remains part of the investigation.

The AAIB has not yet concluded whether the landing gear setting was a cause or just a coincidence, but investigators are now weighing it as a potential contributing factor in the aircraft’s inability to gain altitude or return safely to the runway.

In aviation, accidents are rarely the result of a single point of failure. They’re often the tragic convergence of multiple issues. The “DOWN” position of the landing gear lever could represent one of several seemingly minor — but collectively significant — errors or malfunctions that led to disaster.

As the investigation continues, this detail serves as a stark reminder: in aviation, every switch, every checklist, every standard procedure exists for a reason — and ignoring or missing just one can have fatal consequences.