Originally Posted by
passanger
What every passanger wants to know is- what would have happened if this event occured, 10 seconds later- or just as we went wheels up... and what might have happened if this failure occured, say 30 seconds into the air? Could the good engine be excellerated fast enough to make up for the lost one?
By law any airliner must be and actually is designed to be able to perform a safe takeoff and climb out with one engine out. So even if the engine failure had occured later past the decision speed (V1), after which a takeoff would be unconditionally continued, or already after becoming airborne, the airplane would be able to safely continue, get to a safe altitude and then return for a safe landing.
There have been many incidents like this before in history of aviation, that did not produce more than a footnote in the local newspaper.
Actually, the good (working) engine(s) will not be accelerated to make up for the failed engine. Each engine will be operated at its normal takeoff setting for every takeoff. If one engine fails, the other engine(s) will still supply that same amount of thrust, which is sufficient for safe continuation of the takeoff. That means, that on a twin airplane like the B777, you were on, each of the engines produces enough thrust to get and keep the airplane airborne. With both engines operating the B777 has therefore twice as much thrust available as is needed to lift her into the air.
Servus, Simon