The official investigation into the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash on June 12, which resulted in 260 fatalities, is ongoing. An interim report published in July generated speculation and controversy. Boeing declined to comment, referring queries to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Allegations of Prior Safety Defects
The Foundation for Aviation Safety (FAS), a U.S. campaign group led by former Boeing manager Ed Pierson, claims to possess documents indicating that the crashed aircraft had a history of technical failures, including an in-flight fire. The FAS has submitted a presentation outlining its findings to the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
According to the FAS, the aircraft, registered VT-ANB, experienced system failures from its initial day in service for Air India in early 2014. The group alleges these issues stemmed from "a wide and confusing variety of engineering, manufacturing, quality, and maintenance problems."
Alleged failures include:
- Electronics and software faults
- Repeated circuit breaker tripping
- Damage to wiring and short circuits
- Loss of electrical current
- Overheating of power system components
- A fire in the P100 power distribution panel in January 2022, which necessitated the panel's replacement.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of the earliest models of which was the crashed aircraft, relies heavily on electrical systems. Earlier models faced issues, including a significant battery fire on a Japan Airlines plane in 2013, which led to a temporary grounding of the 787 fleet. The P100 panel itself was redesigned in 2010 following a test aircraft fire.
Investigation and Controversy
The Indian AAIB is conducting the official investigation, with U.S. officials participating due to the aircraft's origin. A preliminary AAIB report indicated that shortly after take-off, the plane's fuel control switches were moved from the "run" to the "cut-off" position, which would have cut fuel to the engines. The switches were reportedly moved back, but too late.
Controversially, the report mentioned a cockpit voice recording where one pilot asked another why the cut-off occurred, and the other denied doing so. This led some commentators to suggest pilot error. However, victims' lawyers, safety campaigners, and technical experts have countered that this focus is misleading and diverts attention from potential technical issues with the aircraft. Ed Pierson described the preliminary report as "woefully inadequate."
Broader Concerns
The FAS's concerns extend beyond the specific accident aircraft. The group states it has examined approximately 2,000 reports of failures on hundreds of other 787 aircraft globally, including water leaks into wiring bays, which the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had previously noted. Boeing has consistently maintained the 787's safety record; prior to the Ahmedabad crash, it had operated for nearly 15 years without a single fatality.