The loss of flame can have a variety of causes, such as fuel starvation, excessive altitude, compressor stall, foreign object damage deriving from birds, hail, or volcanic ash, severe precipitation, mechanical failure, or very low ambient temperatures.
[1][2] Early jet engines were prone to flameout following disturbances of inlet airflow, or sudden or inappropriate thrust lever movements, which resulted in incorrect air-fuel ratios in the combustion chamber.
Flameouts occur most frequently at intermediate or low power settings such as in cruise and descent.
To prevent a flameout when atmospheric or operational conditions are conducive to it, engine control systems usually provide a continuous ignition function.
Up to that altitude, a windmill restart can be attempted at airspeeds greater than 260 knots (480 km/h; 300 mph); below that speed, a starter-assisted relight is required.