Air India AI-171 crash investigation

Following the June 12, 2025, crash of Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner traveling from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, which resulted in 260 fatalities, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has intensified its calls for technical scrutiny.

The FIP initially urged the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the aircraft’s electrical, electronic, and avionics systems. Highlighting the ‘More Electric Aircraft’ architecture of the Boeing 787, the FIP emphasized the need to investigate power distribution, data-network performance, and software functionality. Reports also indicated that the Foundation for Aviation Safety (FAS) provided the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch with documents alleging “chronic and systemic failures” within the aircraft’s electrical and flight-computer systems.

As the AAIB works toward a final report expected by October 2026, the FIP has formally requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to include professional pilots as independent technical stakeholders in the review of the draft final investigation report. The pilots' body has specifically requested a detailed examination of the aircraft’s electrical systems and the Ram Air Turbine.