Almost immediately after take-off the cockpit gave a mayday call, India's aviation regulator said. No response was given by the aircraft after that. It's unclear what prompted the mayday call, but the flight's sole survivor has told Indian media that he heard a loud bang as the plane struggled to gain altitude.
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...videos that have emerged show the plane struggling to lift off the ground, seemingly amid a lack of thrust or power.
"Struggling to lift off the GROUND"? I don't see that at all. BUT, I am no aviation expert.3:54 pm:
From the lone survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh:
“Thirty seconds after takeoff, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed.”
3:46 pm
The flaps on the wings, which give the aircraft lift, clearly, to me, are not deployed. The landing gear, which creates drag, clearly to Stevie Wonder, is not retracted (although this is seconds after liftoff).
3:02 pm
It was a completely routine takeoff. Until it wasn't. After gaining easy ascent the plane just...descended. No projectile strikes, no apparent mechanical malfunction, no abnormal side-to-side motion. It just went up, and then down.
Very strange.
One man onboard survived.