AI-171 Crash: Indian Pilots’ Federation Demands Decoding of Dreamliner Data Links Ahead of First Anniversary
Pilots' body urges investigators to examine Boeing 787 technical data and explore the possibility of an electrical failure leading to a dual-engine shutdown.
Mumbai: As the first anniversary of the tragic Air India AI-171 crash approaches on June 12, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to obtain and decode critical technical data transmitted by the aircraft before the disaster.
The crash involved an Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Air India flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick. The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025.
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According to reports, the aircraft lost altitude within approximately 40 seconds of takeoff and crashed into a hostel building of B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad’s Meghaninagar area. Of the 242 passengers and crew members on board, 241 lost their lives, while one passenger survived the disaster.
In a letter addressed to AAIB officials, FIP President Captain C. S. Randhawa called for a deeper investigation into the possibility of a severe electrical malfunction that may have resulted in a dual-engine flameout shortly after takeoff.
The pilots’ association has requested investigators not to rely solely on preliminary findings and instead conduct a detailed analysis of technical messages transmitted by the aircraft through the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS).
According to the federation, the aircraft reportedly transmitted ten specific maintenance-related messages immediately after becoming airborne. Additional data from approximately 15 minutes before departure is also believed to indicate the presence of technical issues before the aircraft left the runway.
FIP has argued that Air India may not possess the independent capability to fully interpret these highly technical and proprietary maintenance codes. Therefore, the organization has requested AAIB to direct Boeing to decode the transmitted data strings and provide a detailed technical explanation of their significance.
In its submission, the federation stated that an electrical malfunction involving abnormal current flow, electrical arcing, insulation failures, or grounding-path current could potentially affect the Boeing 787’s common-core avionics and network systems, possibly leading to wider operational failures.
The pilots’ body believes that a comprehensive review of these data transmissions could provide crucial insights into the chain of events that led to the fatal accident.
Following the tragedy, Air India permanently retired the AI-171 flight number as a mark of respect for the victims and their families.
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