A U.S.-based aviation group has made shocking allegations regarding the Air India disaster in Ahmedabad last June, which resulted in 261 deaths. The Foundation for Aviation Safety claimed that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner involved in the accident had a history of “a series of system failures” throughout its 11 years of service.
11 Years of Malfunction Records
According to a whistleblower report submitted by the foundation to the U.S. Senate, the aircraft experienced technical problems on its very first day in India, February 1, 2014. The report stated that the plane had manufacturing-related quality issues and experienced chronic problems over the years, including software errors, circuit breaker failures, and short circuits. It was specifically noted that after an electrical fire in 2022, one of the main power distribution panels had to be completely replaced.
Critical Details About the Crash
On June 12, 2025, the London-bound aircraft crashed into a medical college dormitory shortly after takeoff and caught fire. 241 people on board and 19 on the ground lost their lives.
A preliminary report published in July raised suspicions of pilot error. Cockpit voice recordings revealed that seconds after takeoff, the fuel control switches of both engines moved to the “cutoff” position, while the pilots stated they had not touched those switches. Despite the backup power system activating and one engine beginning to recover, the aircraft was unable to gain altitude and crashed.
Investigation Ongoing
The investigation conducted by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is being supported by U.S. and British authorities as well as Boeing experts. Air India stated that it launched comprehensive inspections across its fleet following the crash and maintains that flight safety is upheld to the highest standards. Boeing officials declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
[via The Independent]
