Indian pilots reject blame, demand fresh probe into June 2025 Air India crash
New Delhi: An Indian pilots’ body has demanded further investigation into last year’s deadly Air India crash, asserting that an electrical failure, not pilot error, could have caused the disaster that killed 260 people.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), with over 5,000 members, submitted a letter to the aviation ministry on May 1 saying a “prelift-off electrical disturbance could have caused unintended relay operation and dual engine fuel cut-off without pilot input.”
The move comes ahead of the final report into the June 12, 2025 crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which exploded shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in its preliminary report on July 12, 2025 had noted the fuel supply to the jet’s engines was cut off moments before impact, sparking media speculation of pilot error.
The FIP letter said the AAIB report did not mention whether the fuel switches were turned off due to pilot manoeuvre or a malfunction.
“Media reports continue to suggest pilot action,” it read, adding that international aviation rules require “all credible technical causes be ruled out first.” The pilots’ group urged the probe be treated as a “testable hypothesis” and examined through detailed electrical analysis, arguing, “Technical causes cannot be ruled out till this analysis is made.” The final report is expected by next month.
