Sign in Subscribe
Aircraft accidents

Air India 171 Crash Investigation: Calls for Transparency and Data Release

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The investigation into the London Gatwick-bound Air India 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12 has sparked calls for transparency and the release of vital data. Attorney Mike Andrews, representing at least 65 families of victims, has expressed concerns that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary report did not share the full cockpit voice recorder data, potentially blaming the pilots unfairly. Andrews has experience handling similar aviation disaster cases, including the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX flight 302 crash.

Key Takeaways:

  • Attorney Mike Andrews, representing 65 families of Air India 171 crash victims, is fighting for transparency in the investigation and the release of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) data.
  • The AAIB's preliminary report did not share the full cockpit voice recorder data, which may have led to the pilots being unfairly blamed for the crash.
  • Andrews pointed out that systems in automated aircraft like the Boeing 787 can be complex and may be activated by computer commands, which could contribute to a crash.
  • The crash of the Air India 171 involved uncommanded or erroneous actions by an automated computer system, similar to the Ethiopian Airlines crash in 2019.
  • If the investigation concludes that the aircraft or its components were defective, Andrews plans to file individual cases against Boeing and/or component part manufacturers in the United States.
  • Release of the raw data to understand exactly what happened, how, and why is crucial for the litigation process, according to Andrews.
  • In the event of pilot error being determined as the cause of the crash, litigation may still proceed under the Montreal Convention, establishing liability on the airlines.

Statistics:

  • 241 people died on board and 19 on the ground in the Air India 171 crash.
  • 149 passengers and 8 crew members lost their lives in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX flight 302 crash.
  • The preliminary report of the AAIB was released on July 11, stating that the two engine fuel control switches onboard transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' position within a second of each other, moments after lift-off.
  • The crash scene was "cleaned up" by the time attorney Mike Andrews visited the site.
  • 15 people have filed a case against Boeing in the US courts under similar circumstances.

Sources:

  • Trupti Soni, an Ahmedabad-based entrepreneur who lost three family members in the crash, as quoted in The Indian Express.
  • Mike Andrews, Principal Attorney from Beasley Allen law firm, as quoted in The Indian Express.
  • "Copyright 2025 IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com"

Read more