WILMINGTON, Del.: The families of four passengers who lost their lives in the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 have filed a lawsuit against Boeing and Honeywell, alleging product defects and negligence.
The crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad International Airport in June, killed 242 passengers and crew on board, along with 19 individuals on the ground.
Air India Flight 171 Lawsuit Highlights Fuel Cutoff Switch Defect
The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Superior Court, points to a faulty fuel cutoff switch as the primary cause of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s engine shutdown.
Flight data shows that both engines lost thrust when the switches inadvertently moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” just three seconds after liftoff. Despite the pilots’ efforts to restore power, there was insufficient time to restart the engines before the aircraft crashed one nautical mile from the runway.
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The switch in question, manufactured by Honeywell and installed by Boeing, was designed with a locking mechanism to prevent unintended use. However, the lawsuit alleges that the switches were placed in a “high traffic” area near the thrust levers, making them prone to accidental activation.
Boeing and Honeywell Knew of Defect, Says Lawsuit
According to court documents, both companies were aware of the defect as early as 2018. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) report confirmed that switches were being delivered with locking mechanisms disengaged, creating a risk of unintentional fuel cutoff mid-flight. Despite this knowledge, neither Boeing nor Honeywell allegedly informed Air India or other operators, nor did they provide replacement parts.
Attorney Benjamin Major of The Lanier Law Firm, representing the families, compared the defect to “placing an unprotected emergency brake control next to a radio volume knob in a car,” stressing that restarting aircraft engines takes minutes, not seconds.
Lawsuit Seeks Damages for Families of Victims
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the wrongful deaths of four victims: Kantaben Dhirubhai Paghadal, Naavya Chirag Paghadal, Kuberbhai Patel, and Babiben Patel.
The case, officially filed as Paghadal, et al. v. The Boeing Company and Honeywell International Inc. (Case No. N 25C-09-145 PAW), could have significant implications for both aerospace manufacturers regarding product liability and aviation safety.
