US Aviation Safety Group Makes Damning Claims About Crashed Air India Boeing 787
A prominent United States aviation safety campaign group has made startling allegations about the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad last June, claiming the aircraft experienced significant technical problems from its very first day of service in India.
Chronic System Failures Throughout Service Life
The Foundation for Aviation Safety has submitted a detailed whistleblower report to the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, asserting that the ill-fated aircraft suffered "a series of system failures" during its 11-year operational history. According to the advocacy group, records indicate the Boeing plane encountered issues "on the very first day it arrived in India" on 1 February 2014.
The London-bound flight with 242 people on board crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025, erupting in a fireball after striking a medical college hostel. The disaster resulted in the deaths of all but one person on board, with an additional 19 fatalities occurring on the ground during the lunch hour impact.
Detailed History of Technical Problems
The campaign group alleges the aircraft experienced "a wide and confusing variety of engineering, manufacturing, quality, and maintenance problems" throughout its service life. These failures reportedly included:
- Electronics and software glitches
- Repeated tripping of circuit breakers
- Multiple short circuits
- Power losses across critical systems
- Overheating of essential components
In January 2022, the foundation claims a significant electrical fire occurred in the aircraft's P100 power distribution panel, causing "extensive burning around the L2 Bus Tie Breaker and surrounding wiring." The damage proved so severe that the entire power panel required replacement. The P100 panel receives power from the left engine and distributes it to various vital aircraft systems.
Further problems emerged in April 2022 when the aircraft was grounded due to "confusing faults" involving the landing-gear indication system. According to the report, Air India replaced multiple components including:
- A proximity sensing data concentrator module
- The left Common Core System remote data concentrator in the aft electronics bay
- A Remote Power Distribution Unit power module
Broader Concerns About Boeing 787 Programme
Ed Pierson, executive director of the Foundation for Aviation Safety and a former Boeing senior manager, has connected the crashed aircraft's history to early manufacturing quality concerns about the 787 programme. The advocacy group states its concerns extend beyond the specific aircraft involved in the Air India tragedy, noting it has reviewed approximately 2,000 failure reports involving hundreds of other 787 aircraft operating in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Mr Pierson revealed to The Free Press Journal that the crashed jet was only the 26th 787 ever built, suggesting potential issues with early production models of the Dreamliner series.
Ongoing Investigation and Official Responses
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the inquiry into the crash with assistance from multiple international agencies including the US National Transportation Safety Board, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, and Boeing itself. A preliminary investigation report published in July 2025 triggered speculation about pilot error, containing cockpit voice recorder excerpts indicating both engine fuel control switches moved from "run" to "cutoff" seconds after take-off.
Boeing president and CEO Kelly Ortberg expressed condolences immediately after the incident in June 2025, stating: "Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Air India Flight 171, as well as everyone affected in Ahmedabad." The company has since deferred queries about the crash to the AAIB when approached for comment.
In an August 2025 official update, Air India stated: "The safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft is our foremost priority. Following the tragic accident involving AI171 in June, we have undertaken a series of proactive measures and conducted comprehensive checks ensuring that every flight continues to meet the highest global standards of safety and customer service." These measures reportedly included fleet inspections, safety pauses, operational enhancements, protocol reviews, and phased resumption of international flights.
The sole survivor of the catastrophic crash, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, continues his recovery near Leicester as investigations into the precise causes of the disaster proceed with international cooperation.
