The families of four passengers who died in an Air India crash in June have filed a lawsuit in the United States against aircraft manufacturer Boeing and parts maker Honeywell, accusing both companies of negligence.
The case alleges that faulty fuel switches caused the accident and claims the companies did nothing despite being aware of the risks posed by the aircraft’s design.
Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 bound for London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people. Fuel switches have become a central focus for investigators after a preliminary inquiry revealed that fuel to the engines was cut off moments after the plane left the ground.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has previously stated that fuel control switches on Boeing aircraft are safe. Boeing declined to comment on the case, pointing instead to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary report into the crash.
The lawsuit argues that both Boeing and Honeywell were aware of the risks since they developed and marketed the 787 Dreamliner and its components. It cited a 2018 FAA advisory that urged operators to inspect the fuel switches’ locking mechanisms to ensure they could not be accidentally moved, cutting off the fuel supply. However, the advisory did not mandate such inspections.
According to India’s AAIB preliminary investigation, in the case of Air India Flight 171 the fuel switch was moved from the “run” position to “cut-off,” which hampered engine thrust. The families claim this design defect allowed an inadvertent cutoff of fuel supply, leading to the total loss of thrust necessary to keep the aircraft airborne.
The lawsuit accuses Boeing and Honeywell of failing to warn airlines about the risks, neglecting to recommend mandatory inspections, and not providing replacement parts to correct the defect.
“Boeing and Honeywell sat idly behind a gentle advisory that merely recommended inspecting the switches,” said the families, represented by Texas-based Lanier Law Firm.
A more detailed investigation report from the AAIB is expected in 2026.
In total, 229 passengers, 12 cabin crew, and 19 people on the ground were killed in the crash.
