Air India Crash in Ahmedabad: Families of Victims File Lawsuit Against Boeing
The families of four victims from the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171 on June 12 have initiated a lawsuit against Boeing and Honeywell, alleging that defective cockpit fuel switches were responsible for the disaster that claimed 260 lives. Filed in Delaware Superior Court, the complaint asserts that the accident occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London, due to a flawed design of the aircraft’s fuel cutoff switches. While the FAA has stated that the switches did not appear to cause the crash, the lawsuit argues that their design made them susceptible to accidental activation.
Details of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the families of the deceased, including Kantaben Dhirubhai Paghadal, Naavya Chirag Paghadal, Kuberbhai Patel, and Babiben Patel. The complaint highlights that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced a catastrophic failure mere seconds after departure. According to the families, the cockpit fuel switches, manufactured by Honeywell, were poorly designed and positioned, leading to their accidental activation. The FAA had previously approved these switches, but the lawsuit contends that their placement below the thrust levers contributed to the tragic outcome.
The legal action underscores the complexities surrounding aviation safety and accountability. While the FAA has indicated that the switches themselves did not directly cause the crash, the families believe that the design flaws played a significant role in the events leading to the disaster. This lawsuit is part of a broader trend where manufacturers are often held liable in aviation accidents, as airlines typically have liability caps that do not apply to aircraft manufacturers.
Preliminary Investigation Findings
The preliminary investigation conducted by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the Boeing 787 took off normally before both engines lost power. A cockpit voice recorder captured a critical exchange between the pilots, with one asking why the fuel was turned off, to which the co-pilot denied any action. Investigators discovered that the fuel switches had been inadvertently set to “CUTOFF,” resulting in a loss of power to both engines. Although the crew attempted to reset the switches within 14 seconds, the aircraft had already lost significant thrust, leading to a steep descent and a crash into a nearby building just 32 seconds after takeoff.
CCTV footage confirmed the activation of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup power source intended for use during complete engine failure. The AAIB’s report ruled out bird strikes as a contributing factor, noting no evidence of avian activity in the vicinity at the time of the crash. Out of the 229 passengers and 12 crew members on board, only one passenger survived the incident.
Maintenance Records and Compliance
The investigation also scrutinized Air India’s maintenance records, revealing that the airline had not conducted all recommended inspections for the aircraft model. Notably, the throttle control module, which houses the fuel switches, had been replaced in both 2019 and 2023. However, the AAIB concluded that all relevant airworthiness directives and service bulletins had been adhered to, indicating compliance with regulatory standards.
Despite this compliance, the lawsuit argues that the switches’ location beneath the thrust levers created a high risk of inadvertent fuel cutoff during normal cockpit operations. While aviation safety experts have stated that the design of the switches minimizes the likelihood of accidental activation, the families contend that the configuration effectively guarantees such incidents. Legal analysts note that aviation accidents often result from multiple factors, making lawsuits against manufacturers a common recourse for victims’ families.
Understanding Fuel Control Switches
Fuel control switches are critical components that manage the flow of fuel to an aircraft’s engines. They play a vital role during engine start-up, shutdown, and in-flight emergencies. On the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, these switches are located just below the thrust levers. When switched to “CUTOFF,” they immediately sever power to the engines, which can have dire consequences if activated unintentionally. Aviation engineers emphasize that these switches are designed to resist accidental activation; however, once engaged, the impact is immediate, leaving little time for recovery, as tragically illustrated by the Air India crash.
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