Air India Flight AI-171 crash blamed on electrical fault as pilots' union rejects suicide theory

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has refuted speculation that Air India Flight AI‑171’s crash resulted from pilot‑initiated fuel shutdown. At a press conference, FIP president Capt. C. S. Randhawa cited simulator tests showing that a manual fuel‑cutoff would take significantly longer than the rapid activation of the backup power system observed, indicating a catastrophic electrical or software malfunction rather than a deliberate act.

The union called for a broader investigation, inclusion of independent experts, fresh simulator trials, and a judicial inquiry, arguing that key technical evidence and specialist opinions have been overlooked. The Boeing 787‑8 aircraft, which crashed shortly after take‑off from Ahmedabad on 12 June, killed 229 passengers, 12 crew members and 19 people on the ground, totaling 260 fatalities. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) 15‑page preliminary report omitted any cause, sparking media speculation about pilot error, which the pilots’ body says is “technically impossible.” India’s civil aviation minister has said the final AAIB report, adhering to international standards, will be released soon.