Air India aircraft accident: ‘Cockpit error seems unlikely’

Investigators probing the crash of Air India flight AI-171 on June 12, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, are also looking into a related incident from February 2020. In that earlier case, an Airbus A321 experienced engine issues shortly after takeoff from Gatwick. The pilots issued a Mayday and successfully returned to the airport after 11 minutes.

During the investigation of the 2020 event, the UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AIIB) determined that the engine failure was due to contamination in the fuel system, despite engineers not identifying any faults prior to the flight that night. The AIIB has traveled to Ahmedabad to further investigate the recent crash.

The crash on June 12 involving the Air India flight is believed to have been caused by a power failure, based on the visual evidence and wreckage analysis. “It does not seem to be a cockpit error… Observations indicate that the power failure occurred immediately after the aircraft became airborne and it could not ascend to the safe altitude,” an official informed The Indian Express regarding the Air India crash in Ahmedabad.
The technical logs of AI-171 from the 24 hours leading up to the crash are also being examined to determine if the pilots had raised any concerns during their flights from Paris to Delhi and then from Delhi to Ahmedabad.

Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson stated that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed was “well-maintained” and had undergone a major inspection in June 2023, with the next one scheduled for December this year. In his message to passengers, the Air India chief mentioned that the temporary 15 percent reduction in international wide-body fleet operations for the upcoming weeks could impact customers’ travel plans.

“The aircraft was well-maintained, with its last major inspection completed in June 2023, and the subsequent one planned for December 2025. The right engine had an overhaul in March 2025, and the left engine was inspected in April 2025. Both the aircraft and engines were regularly monitored, showing no issues before the flight,” he noted.

The airline’s chief expressed that the loss of 241 passengers and crew members, along with 34 individuals on the ground, has “left us all in deep sorrow.”