Sabotage not ruled out in Air India crash

Photo: Reuters

India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has confirmed that investigators are exploring all possible causes, including sabotage, in the investigation into the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI‑171, per junior minister Murlidhar Mohol. 

The Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into a residential area minutes after takeoff, killing an estimated 241 passengers and crew and injuring residents on the ground. One passenger survived the crash but tragically lost his brother. 

Minister Mohol stated the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is reviewing CCTV footage, maintenance records, and crew procedures, acknowledging the rare dual-engine failure and confirming sabotage is being considered alongside other scenarios such as technical malfunction or fuel contamination.

The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been extracted and analyzed in India with assistance from the U.S. NTSB and UK AAIB. Authorities have declined requests to send them abroad, stressing that the AAIB is equipped to handle the analysis domestically.

Reuters, meanwhile reports that India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated comprehensive inspections of all 33 Boeing 787 aircraft in Air India’s fleet, including power assurance and flight control checks. A preliminary investigative report is expected in approximately three months, although the AAIB began data extraction on 24 June.