The families of four passengers who perished in the Air India crash in June have filed a lawsuit against aerospace manufacturers Boeing and Honeywell, attributing the disaster to alleged negligence and a defective fuel cutoff switch. The crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London on June 12, resulted in the deaths of 260 individuals.
In a complaint submitted to the Delaware Superior Court, the plaintiffs contend that the locking mechanism for the switch on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner could be unintentionally turned off or be absent, leading to a loss of fuel supply and the necessary thrust for takeoff. They assert that both Boeing and Honeywell were aware of risks associated with this mechanism, particularly following warnings from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2018 regarding disengaged locking mechanisms on several Boeing models.
A preliminary investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has indicated that Air India did not perform the recommended inspections and noted that the plane’s throttle control module, which houses the fuel switches, was replaced in both 2019 and 2023. Additionally, a cockpit recording suggested that the captain may have inadvertently cut off fuel flow to the engines.
The lawsuit argues that the placement of the switches in the cockpit heightens the likelihood of accidental triggering during routine operations. However, some aviation safety experts have expressed skepticism, stating that the switches’ location and design should not allow for accidental activation.
Boeing declined to comment, and Honeywell has not yet responded to inquiries. This lawsuit marks the first of its kind in the U.S. following the crash, seeking unspecified damages for the deaths of the four individuals, who were among 229 passengers who died. In total, 12 crew members and 19 ground personnel also lost their lives. Investigators from India, the UK, and the U.S. have yet to reach a definitive conclusion regarding the crash’s cause.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/18/air-india-crash-victim-families-sue-boeing-honeywell