One of the Dreamliners That Gave a Boeing Manager Nightmares Just Crashed

[Grins]

7. This is a hit piece.

The 787 Dreamliner has a great safety record. That aircraft, launched 14 years ago, carried its billionth passenger last month.

"Most planes aren’t designed to dive nosefirst into the ground like the 737 Max."
But this was a Boeing 787; not a 737. So references to the 737 are just smoke.

"The pilot reportedly cried “engine failure” in a mayday call to air traffic controllers seconds before the crash..."
So, it was the engine (if it is the engine); not the airplane.
Boeing does not make engines.

As a general aviation pilot, and like many of you, I saw the video clip of the plane on departure, descending like a fat goose coming in for a landing on a pond.

And my first thought: "Why is the gear still down???" A drag on speed and lift.

Then later I see - the flaps were not deployed!
A key before-departure item on the pilot's check list.
I don't know of any heavy aircraft that does not specifically require the deployment of the flaps prior to departure.
Someone fucked up, and it may not be Boeing.

The only honest line in this piece: "It’s too early to know exactly what caused the bizarre crash of Air India 171."

No shit.