Preliminary Probe Finds No Aircraft Faults in the Deadliest Crash of the Decade

For the first time since the accident occurred, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has spoken out about a June crash that resulted in the deaths of 260 people. Initial investigations, he says, revealed no malfunctions with the aircraft, fueling the popular theory that human error is largely to blame.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had just taken off from Ahmedabad bound for London Gatwick when both engines suddenly lost power, causing it to crash just off the end of the runway. All but one person on board and 19 on the ground were killed, making it the deadliest accident in more than a decade.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau quickly found that both fuel control switches had been moved to CUTOFF roughly three seconds after liftoff, effectively killing both engines.

Wilson’s comments came at the recent Aviation India and South Asia Summit in New Delhi, where he called the crash “devastating” and reaffirmed the airline’s support for victims’ families. Quoting the interim report, he said the investigation “indicated that there was nothing wrong with aircraft engines or practices that required changing,” though he stressed that Air India continues to review its procedures. “Anything that happens in the industry, whether that’s us or others, is a cause for introspection. It is a cause for reviewing practices… we’re always looking at how we can keep improving, keep learning.”

The cockpit voice recorder recovered from the wreckage revealed confusion in the final seconds of flight. One pilot can be heard asking the other why the switches were turned off, though both denied moving them. The controls were found back in the RUN position, showing a potential attempt to restart the engines before impact. The official cause remains under investigation.

The AI171 crash marked the first-ever hull loss of a Boeing 787 and dealt a severe blow to Air India’s ongoing image overhaul under Wilson’s leadership. Since taking over in 2022, the former Scoot CEO has overseen an ambitious modernization plan, including a record-breaking 470-aircraft order and massive IT and service upgrades.

But even before the crash, the airline’s safety culture was under the microscope. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation found over 50 safety violations in a July audit, raising questions about oversight and crew training.

FMI: www.airindia.com