US Aviation Lawyers Question Pilot Error Narrative in Air India 171 Crash Investigation
Senior aviation attorney Mike Andrews from US law firm Beasley Allen, representing families of over 100 victims from the Air India 171 crash, has firmly rejected preliminary findings suggesting pilot error, calling for a transparent investigation into potential technical failures.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed just 32 seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025, killing 241 of the 242 people on board in what became India's deadliest aviation disaster and the first fatal crash of a Boeing 787.
Concerns Over Fuel Switch Issues
Andrews highlighted a critical 2018 Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness bulletin that flagged potential problems with Boeing fuel control switches across multiple 787 models. "Boeing and the FAA were aware of problems with these fuel switches," Andrews stated, noting the switches could inadvertently transition from run to cutoff positions.
The preliminary report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has focused heavily on fuel switch operations, though Andrews argues this represents a "hasty rush" to assign blame to deceased pilots without comprehensive technical analysis.
Technical System Failures Under Scrutiny
The legal team is investigating potential malfunctions in the Thrust Control Malfunction Accommodation system and Full Authority Digital Engine Control systems. These interconnected systems manage engine power based on aircraft status, and failures could cause automatic power reductions without pilot input.
"The computer system can read erroneous data or have a malfunction that can make it appear as if fuel switches have transitioned when they have not," Andrews explained.
International Investigation Cooperation
India's investigation bureau met with US National Transportation Safety Board officials in Washington last December, suggesting the probe extends beyond initial pilot error theories. Andrews views this as evidence that investigators remain uncertain about the crash's primary cause.
The lawyer, who previously represented Ethiopian Airlines crash victims in the Boeing 737 Max cases, noted striking similarities in the immediate tendency to blame pilots rather than conducting thorough technical investigations.
Families Seek Transparency
More than 100 families have engaged Beasley Allen, which has filed Freedom of Information Act requests in the United States. Andrews emphasised the importance of face-to-face meetings with families, calling their loss "personal" and deserving of individual respect.
"We need a thorough, transparent investigation so families can have the answers they deserve," Andrews said, criticising what he termed "highly decontextualised snippets" of pilot conversations in the preliminary report.
The final investigation report remains pending as families continue demanding justice and transparency in determining the true cause of this unprecedented aviation tragedy.