Aviation safety campaigners in the United States say they have evidence a plane that crashed in India last year had previously suffered a series of technical failures, including an in-flight fire. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed on 12 June, shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad en route to London, killing 260 people.
The Foundation for Aviation Safety, a US campaign group, has sent a presentation to the US Senate outlining its findings, which it says are based on documents that have come into its possession. The official investigation into the accident is ongoing. However, an interim report published in July sparked widespread speculation and controversy. Boeing declined to comment.
The aircraft involved in the accident, registered as VT-ANB, was one of the earliest 787s to be built. It first flew in late 2013 and entered service with Air India in early 2014. The Foundation for Aviation Safety claims documents show that the plane experienced system failures from its first day in service for Air India, resulting from a complex mix of engineering, manufacturing, quality, and maintenance issues.
Failures included electronics and software faults, tripped circuit breakers, damaged wiring, short circuits, loss of electrical current, and overheating of power system components. In January 2022, a fire involving a power distribution panel was identified, leading to serious operational disruptions.
Furthermore, details from the preliminary report on the crash indicated that fuel control switches were mistakenly moved, contributing to the engines losing thrust. This has fueled speculation about pilot error, although safety advocates argue the focus on pilot actions has overshadowed potential technical failures.
The ongoing investigation, conducted by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), has included input from American officials as the aircraft's design and engines are primarily American-made. The Foundation for Aviation Safety continues to express concerns over the 787 fleet's overall safety, drawing attention to various fault reports across multiple countries. Boeing maintains that the 787 is safe with a solid operational record, having been operational for nearly a decade and a half without previous fatalities before the Ahmedabad crash.
The Foundation for Aviation Safety, a US campaign group, has sent a presentation to the US Senate outlining its findings, which it says are based on documents that have come into its possession. The official investigation into the accident is ongoing. However, an interim report published in July sparked widespread speculation and controversy. Boeing declined to comment.
The aircraft involved in the accident, registered as VT-ANB, was one of the earliest 787s to be built. It first flew in late 2013 and entered service with Air India in early 2014. The Foundation for Aviation Safety claims documents show that the plane experienced system failures from its first day in service for Air India, resulting from a complex mix of engineering, manufacturing, quality, and maintenance issues.
Failures included electronics and software faults, tripped circuit breakers, damaged wiring, short circuits, loss of electrical current, and overheating of power system components. In January 2022, a fire involving a power distribution panel was identified, leading to serious operational disruptions.
Furthermore, details from the preliminary report on the crash indicated that fuel control switches were mistakenly moved, contributing to the engines losing thrust. This has fueled speculation about pilot error, although safety advocates argue the focus on pilot actions has overshadowed potential technical failures.
The ongoing investigation, conducted by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), has included input from American officials as the aircraft's design and engines are primarily American-made. The Foundation for Aviation Safety continues to express concerns over the 787 fleet's overall safety, drawing attention to various fault reports across multiple countries. Boeing maintains that the 787 is safe with a solid operational record, having been operational for nearly a decade and a half without previous fatalities before the Ahmedabad crash.
