The aircraft, operating the Ahmedabad-London route, went down seconds after takeoff, crashing into a residential area of the city. According to FAS, the plane had been in service since 2014 and had a history of repeated technical and system-related malfunctions. A whistleblower report cited by FAS revealed multiple failures shortly after induction.
The organisation also highlighted a fire incident in 2022, which may have caused internal system damage. FAS noted that details of such prior incidents were not fully disclosed publicly, raising concerns over aircraft safety transparency.
FAS’s primary hypothesis points to an electrical failure, warning that modern aircraft are heavily dependent on electricity and software. A disruption in the power supply can cause several critical systems to fail simultaneously, severely compromising flight safety.
The investigation has been complicated by the fact that complete technical data and the cockpit voice recorder have not yet been released, making it difficult to reconstruct the exact sequence of failures.
The Boeing 787 fleet has faced similar issues globally. FAS said that nearly 2,000 failure-related reports involving 787 aircraft have been recorded in the United States, Canada, and Australia, suggesting that the Ahmedabad crash could indicate broader safety risks for the global 787 fleet.
The crash has also inflicted a significant financial impact on Air India, with estimated losses exceeding ₹15,000 crore in the current fiscal year. The situation has been exacerbated by regional airspace restrictions, including the closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian aircraft, increasing operational costs for Europe and North America flights.
Investigations are ongoing, with authorities awaiting detailed technical and voice data to conclusively determine the cause of the accident. The FAS report underscores the need for greater transparency and scrutiny in aircraft maintenance records and safety reporting.
