An Indian pilot group has written to the aviation ministry, suggesting that an electrical failure—rather than pilot action—may have been responsible for the deadly Air India crash last year.
The submission was made by the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), which represents more than 5,000 members. It comes ahead of the expected final report into the crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that killed 260 people shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025.
In line with international requirements, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report on July 12, one month after the disaster. The aircraft had erupted into flames shortly after departing from Ahmedabad in western India.
That 15-page preliminary report stated that fuel supply to the aircraft’s engines was cut off moments before impact, raising the possibility of pilot error. However, it did not clarify whether the fuel switches were turned off by pilot action or due to a technical malfunction.
The Federation of Indian Pilots, in a letter dated May 1 and seen by AFP, described its submission as a “technical note” proposing a “credible cause” that requires further investigation.
It suggested that “a prelift-off electrical disturbance could have caused unintended relay operation and dual engine fuel cut-off without pilot input.”
The group also stated that media reports continue to imply pilot action as the cause.
However, it added that the International Civil Aviation Organisation requires all credible technical causes to be ruled out before drawing conclusions.
The final investigation report is expected next month, within a year of the crash.
The FIP further stated that its hypothesis should be treated as testable and examined through detailed electrical analysis, adding that technical causes cannot be ruled out until such analysis is completed.