Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a major breakthrough in the investigation of the Air India flight AI-171 crash on June 12, new evidence suggests that a limited electrical fire erupted just 26 seconds after the aircraft took off from Ahmedabad. The Boeing Dreamliner suffered a mid-air failure and crashed shortly after departure, prompting a detailed multi-agency investigation.
Forensic teams examining the wreckage found signs of electrical fire damage in the tail section of the aircraft. Investigators noted that this portion of the fuselage was comparatively less damaged by the crash and subsequent explosion. Preliminary analysis indicates that specific electrical components in the rear may have ignited, possibly due to a malfunction in the aircraft’s power distribution system.
Recovered materials from the tail section have been secured in Ahmedabad and are being closely examined to determine the root cause of the electrical malfunction.
A major complication for investigators is that the rear black box—found on the roof of BJ Medical College’s hostel—was so severely damaged by heat that its data could not be retrieved. Fortunately, the forward black box, discovered on June 16, was intact. It contained 49 hours of flight data and audio from six previous flights, including two hours of voice recording leading up to the crash.
Prior to the crash, flight AI-423 from Delhi to Ahmedabad reported a fault in the STAB POS XDCR (Stabilizer Position Transducer), a key component located in the tail section. Though maintenance teams claimed to have resolved the issue before AI-171’s departure, investigators are now focusing on whether the same component could have contributed to the electrical short circuit.
The Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), also located in the tail, was reportedly undamaged and found in auto-start mode at the time of the crash. The APU is typically used to start the engines and provide backup power during flight. Its activation suggests the main power system may have failed suddenly, triggering the emergency backup.
Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the crash, revealed that the cabin lights began flickering shortly after takeoff—an early sign that something was wrong with the aircraft’s electrical system.
Seventy-two hours after the incident, the body of a flight attendant was recovered from the tail section. She had not been burned by fire but died from the impact while strapped into her seat. Her identity was confirmed using remnants of her clothing. Prolonged exposure and fire retardant chemicals made recovery and identification difficult.
Data from the working black box revealed that both engines lost fuel supply within seconds. This aligns with the theory of a power system failure.
Notably, the Boeing Dreamliner fleet, including AI-171, was temporarily grounded in 2013 due to APU battery defects. The aircraft in question was inducted into service later that same year after FAA approval of design changes.
The AI-171 tragedy has now reignited concerns over Dreamliner reliability and prompted fresh scrutiny into power systems used in modern commercial jets.
