Lawsuit blames faulty fuel cutoff switch for deadly crash of Air India Flight 171; first U.S. lawsuit over the incident filed in Delaware.
Air India Flight 171 Crash: Families File Lawsuit in U.S. Against Boeing, Honeywell
The families of four passengers who died in the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash on June 12, 2025, have filed a lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court against aerospace giants Boeing and Honeywell, citing negligence and defective design as the causes of the disaster.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
- The complaint focuses on a faulty fuel cutoff switch on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
- The locking mechanism on the switch could be inadvertently turned off or may be missing altogether.
- Plaintiffs argue this led to fuel supply loss and loss of thrust during takeoff.
- The switch’s placement directly behind thrust levers allegedly increased the risk of accidental shutdown during normal cockpit activity.
“What did Honeywell and Boeing do to prevent the inevitable catastrophe? Nothing,” the lawsuit states.
Background: The Crash That Killed 260 People
- Date: June 12, 2025
- Flight: Air India 171
- Route: Ahmedabad → London
- Fatalities:
- 229 passengers
- 12 crew members
- 19 people on the ground
- Survivors: Only one passenger survived
Among the victims named in the lawsuit are:
- Kantaben Dhirubhai Paghadal
- Naavya Chirag Paghadal
- Kuberbhai Patel
- Babiben Patel
Defendants and Their Role
- Boeing (installed the switch; headquartered in Arlington, Virginia)
- Honeywell (manufactured the switch; based in Charlotte, North Carolina)
Both companies are incorporated in Delaware, where the suit was filed.
No Comments Yet
- Boeing declined to comment.
- Honeywell did not respond to media inquiries.
Prior Warnings from FAA Ignored?
The plaintiffs cite a 2018 FAA bulletin warning about disengaged locking mechanisms on Boeing aircraft.
“Boeing effectively guaranteed that normal cockpit activity could result in inadvertent fuel cutoff,” the complaint alleges.
Crash Investigations Still Inconclusive
- Indian, UK, and U.S. investigators have not conclusively identified the cause of the crash.
- A preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau in July described cockpit confusion before the crash.
- FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford has stated there’s a “high level of confidence” that mechanical issues were not at fault.
Boeing’s Legal Troubles Continue
This lawsuit is the first U.S. legal action related to the Air India crash.
- Boeing is still recovering from over $20 billion in legal costs linked to the 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019.
- The 737 MAX was grounded worldwide for 20 months after those incidents.
Families Seek Justice Across Borders
- Plaintiffs are citizens of India or the United Kingdom.
- They are seeking unspecified damages for the wrongful deaths of their family members.
- The case could set a precedent for international aviation litigation involving U.S.-based manufacturers.
