Air India plane in Ahmedabad crash reportedly had issues from day one

A US aviation safety campaign group told a Senate subcommittee that the Air India Boeing 787-8 involved in the June Ahmedabad crash had a long record of technical and electrical problems dating from early 2014; India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading an ongoing inquiry with assistance from US and UK agencies and Boeing.

A London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on 12 June, with large loss of life both on board and on the ground. A US advocacy group, the Foundation for Aviation Safety, told the US Senate it had evidence the aircraft experienced technical and electrical problems from the day it arrived in India in February 2014. The group submitted a whistleblower report on 12 January and said the plane had repeated system faults over its service life, including an electrical fire in 2022 that required replacement of a power distribution panel. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is leading the inquiry with assistance from the US National Transportation Safety Board, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch and Boeing. Key reported findings: - The advocacy group alleges the aircraft showed problems from its first day in India on 1 February 2014. - The jet was among the earliest 787s built and entered Air India service in early 2014, the report said. - The group reported a January 2022 electrical fire in the P100 power distribution panel that led to replacement of that panel. - In April 2022 the aircraft was grounded for faults involving the landing-gear indication system and several modules were replaced, according to the group. - The group linked these issues to broader manufacturing and quality concerns in early 787 production and reviewed thousands of related failure reports from other countries. - A preliminary investigation published in July included cockpit voice excerpts that suggested both engine fuel control switches moved to "cutoff" seconds after take-off; the official inquiry is ongoing. Summary: The campaign group's submission to a US Senate subcommittee highlights a reported long history of technical faults on the specific 787-8 involved in the Ahmedabad accident and raises questions about its maintenance and manufacturing history. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, assisted by international agencies and Boeing, continues the formal investigation; next procedural steps are undetermined at this time.