Indian Pilots Demand Further Probe into Air India Crash

Indian pilots, represented by the Federal Indian Pilots (FIP), have submitted a letter to the aviation ministry requesting a deeper investigation into the Air India crash that occurred on June 12, 2025, involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that resulted in 260 fatalities shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India. The pilots suggest that an electrical failure, rather than pilot error, was responsible for the crash.

The FIP, which has 5,000 members, is awaiting the final report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which published a preliminary report on July 12, 2025. This report raised questions about the possibility of pilot error but did not confirm whether a fuel switch was turned off, leading to the engine malfunction.

The FIP's letter, dated May 1, 2026, includes a technical note proposing that an electrical disturbance could have inadvertently activated the dual engine fuel cut-off without pilot input. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requires credible technical causes to be established before the final report is released, which is expected next month.