Pilot Group Raises New Theory on Cause of Deadly Air India Crash
Aviation authorities in India may face renewed scrutiny over the cause of last year’s fatal Air India crash, following a fresh submission by the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), which suggests that an electrical failure—not pilot error—could have triggered the disaster.
The crash, involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, occurred on June 12, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people when the aircraft went down in a fiery explosion.
In a letter dated May 1 and submitted to India’s aviation ministry, the FIP presented what it described as a “technical note” outlining a possible alternative cause of the crash. The group argued that a pre-liftoff electrical disturbance may have triggered an unintended relay operation, leading to a dual engine fuel cut-off without any pilot input.
The development comes ahead of the anticipated final report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), expected within a year of the incident.
A preliminary report released by the AAIB on July 12, 2025, indicated that fuel supply to the aircraft’s engines had been cut off moments before impact, raising concerns about possible pilot involvement. However, the report did not conclusively determine whether the fuel switches were manually turned off or affected by a system malfunction.
The FIP, which represents more than 5,000 pilots, urged investigators to fully examine all credible technical explanations before drawing conclusions. It stressed that international aviation protocols require that mechanical or electrical failures be ruled out before attributing accidents to human error.
“Technical causes cannot be ruled out until detailed electrical analysis is conducted,” the group stated, calling for the hypothesis to be treated as a testable scenario.
The submission also comes amid growing media speculation suggesting pilot responsibility, which the pilots’ body cautioned against, insisting that conclusions should be based strictly on comprehensive investigation findings.
With the final report expected next month, the latest intervention by the FIP is likely to intensify debate over the true cause of one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.
AFP
Pilot Group Raises New Theory on Cause of Deadly Air India Crash