AI 171 Air India crash probe report expected amid buzz of pilot error, engine failure

Exactly one month to the day after the horrific Air India 171 crash in Ahmedabad, the prelim inquiry report of what actually happened is expected on today on July 11. 

The crash left 241 passengers dead and killed 19 more on the ground. There was one miracle survivor who is now recovering from his injuries. The flight crashed seconds after taking off for London from Ahmedabad.

Recordings hold the key

The report is based on initial data from the black box, including the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, which were recovered and analysed in Delhi. Most likely the preliminary report will be an account of what the CVR and FDR will reveal. The CVR has all the audio recordings within the cockpit, including the voices of the pilots, alarms, communication with the crew as well as the ATC on the ground.

These recording will give the biggest clues as to what exactly the pilots were dealing with in the short period between the take off and crash. The FDR has all the signals and electronic data of the instruments used by the pilots and the responses from within the systems that fly the aircraft.

One of the stronger theories that emerged after video footage of the crashing aircraft was reviewed is that there was a catastrophic engine failure. This was concluded by several aviation experts and former pilots on the basis of the ramjet air turbine deploying. The turbine automatically deploys to keep critical systems going in case of engine failure.

Pliot error? Experts doubt it

While there is no clarity yet as to what the report indicates, there is a lot of buzz that the pilots might be held responsible for making errors. Several international media outlets as well as social media accounts claiming to be aviation experts have floated the theory of pilot error. This also partly stems from the fact that India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, DGCA, gave a virtual clean chit to Boeing within days of the crash, saying that there was no clear fault with the 787 aircraft. At the same time it had flagged safety concerns with Air India’s maintenance processes. DGCA had carried out checks and surveillance of Air India’s fleet of 787s and cleared all of them.

At the same time, aviation experts and former pilots have said that the captain and co-pilot are convenient targets, with Boeing having the money to bend public opinion through PR.

While the blame game continues online and in the media, the actual report is likely to focus on these points:

Fuel Control Switches

Investigators are examining the movement of the Boeing 787’s engine fuel control switches, following analysis of flight data and cockpit voice recordings. It remains unclear whether actions involving these switches—whether intentional, accidental, or improper—contributed to the crash. A former pilot has questioned this theory, noting the switches are protected by a stop-lock mechanism to prevent accidental activation.

Sabotage Angle

The investigation is exploring all possibilities, including sabotage, as stated by Junior Civil Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol. However, no conclusive evidence has been reported to support this angle.

International Involvement

The investigation includes experts from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Boeing, adhering to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines. India has blocked a UN investigator from assisting, opting to handle the probe domestically

Legal Actions

Families of the victims are reportedly planning a class-action lawsuit against Air India, Boeing, and others, with consultations underway with aviation law firms.

Public and Industry Interest

The crash, the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, has drawn significant attention from the global aviation industry. The AAIB’s findings are anticipated to clarify whether the cause was technical failure, human error, or other factors.

Fake News

A viral WhatsApp message claiming to be a preliminary AAIB report, which attributed the crash to a mechanical failure involving the captain’s seat sliding backward, was debunked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) as false. The public is urged to rely on official sources for accurate information

The investigation remains active, with no conclusive cause yet determined. The preliminary report is expected to provide further clarity, though detailed findings may take months or years. In fact, there has been some surprise in aviation circles about the prelim report coming within a month. It usually takes longer than that.

Passenger problems

Air India too has come under criticism for its approach after the crash. The Tatas, which had only recently taken over AI from the government isn’t seen to be putting the airline and the crash on priority. Meanwhile, immediately after the crash, a large number of flights were cancelled or delayed, causing a lot of inconveniences to passengers. In several cases, passenger were told at the boarding gate that their flights had been cancelled. Most of them were offered a refund, which created problems for those with connecting flights or urgent travel requirements. AI explained these delays and cancellations by saying that there were technical and maintenance issues.