New Delhi: As investigations into the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 continue, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, has confirmed that “possible sabotage” is one of the scenarios being actively examined. His statement comes as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) analyzes black box data retrieved from the doomed aircraft.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, resulting in the deaths of 260 people — 241 passengers and crew onboard, along with 19 individuals on the ground. This marks the first fatal crash involving a Dreamliner aircraft globally.
According to officials, both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) were recovered from the crash site and transported to Delhi for detailed analysis. The AAIB, India’s chief aviation crash investigation authority, is leading a comprehensive probe, assisted by a multidisciplinary team of Indian and international experts, including those from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Speaking at an event in Pune, MoS Mohol stated, “All possible angles, including sabotage, are being looked into. Surveillance footage is under review, and several investigative agencies are working collaboratively to establish the cause.”
The investigation is focused on reconstructing the sequence of events before the crash. Authorities are examining scenarios such as mechanical malfunction, engine or system failure, human error, and environmental factors. A bird strike has been ruled out.
Aviation expert Amit Singh noted that while the Boeing 787’s engines are highly reliable, the aircraft appeared to suffer from inadequate thrust immediately after takeoff, prompting a Mayday distress call from the cockpit.
Unnamed sources cited in a Reuters report suggest that investigators are also studying engine thrust output, flap configuration, and the rare possibility of the landing gear remaining deployed during takeoff. Maintenance records and crew actions are under scrutiny.
The crash site’s black box data began to be extracted on June 24 with technical support from U.S. and Indian teams. According to the civil aviation ministry, the Crash Protection Module from the CVR was safely retrieved, and its memory successfully accessed on June 25 at the AAIB lab.
The AAIB’s investigation team, formed a day after the crash on June 13, includes specialists in various aviation disciplines such as technical operations, aviation medicine, and air traffic control, in line with standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Meanwhile, Gujarat authorities on Saturday revised the official death toll to 260 after completing body identification and recovery operations. “All mortal remains have been identified and handed over to the families,” confirmed Dhananjay Dwivedi, the state’s Additional Chief Secretary for Health and Family Welfare.
The probe remains ongoing, with investigators cautioning that definitive conclusions will depend on a complete analysis of flight data and all contributing factors.
