On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. More than three months later, the investigation remains under scrutiny from families of victims, aviation experts, pilot associations, and judicial authorities.
The law firm Beasley Allen is representing over 120 families affected by the crash. Mike Andrews leads the firm's aviation attorneys in this case. According to Beasley Allen, their goal is to uncover the truth about the crash, hold negligent parties accountable, and advocate for reforms to improve air travel safety.
India’s Supreme Court has raised questions about the independence of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the investigation. The Court described as “unfortunate” that a preliminary report was released suggesting pilot error before a full inquiry had been completed. That report claimed that pilots moved fuel control switches from RUN to CUTOFF, resulting in both engines losing thrust.
The Supreme Court emphasized that crash investigations must be conducted in a free, fair, and impartial manner. It also noted potential conflicts of interest since some AAIB investigators are part of India’s aviation regulatory body.
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has called for a judicial probe led by a retired Supreme Court judge. The association claims that investigators violated procedures by leaking cockpit voice recorder information and advancing a “pilot error” theory prematurely. The FIP warned that blaming pilots without conclusive evidence damages Captain Sumeet Sabharwal’s reputation—a pilot with more than 15,000 flight hours—and could result in international criticism if India does not comply with ICAO Annex 13 standards for independent accident investigations.
Independent experts have suggested technical failures may have contributed to the crash. One theory involves possible electrical malfunctions related to water leaks in the Boeing 787’s electronics bay—a risk previously identified by the FAA in safety directives before this incident. If proven true, responsibility could shift from pilot actions toward design or maintenance issues with the aircraft.
Beasley Allen continues its efforts on behalf of victims’ families as calls for transparency and accountability persist during the ongoing investigation.