AI171 Accident Investigation: What Allegedly Caused the Boeing 787 Tragedy?
- Captain Bassani
- 24 de out.
- 3 min de leitura
By Captain Bassani - ATPL/B-727/DC-10/B-767 - Former Air Accident Inspector SIA PT. captbassani@gmail.com - Mar/2025 - https://www.personalflyer.com.br/
As an Airline Captain and Air Accident Investigator, I provide this unofficial analysis of the Air India AI171 accident which occurred on June 12, 2025, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
This event represented the first fatal loss involving a Boeing 787, after nearly 16 years of operation without fatalities.
Summary:
Both engines were automatically shut down almost simultaneously, 3 seconds after takeoff, due to loss of digital signal between the aircraft’s central computer (CCR) and the Engine Electronic Controls (EEC).
The engines were restarted, but there was not enough time or altitude to recover the flight.
The accident was caused by a temporary failure in digital communication between the CCR and EECs, which triggered a standard protection logic capable of reducing both engines to idle.
Likely root cause:
An external professional analysis supposedly revealed that, this communication was interrupted by an electrical short circuit caused by water ingress into the electronics bay (Equipment/Electronics Bay – EE Bay), a problem already documented by the FAA and Boeing in several directives and service bulletins.
The FAA issued three Airworthiness Directives (ADs) addressing the risk of water intrusion into EE Bays, including a specific AD after this accident, making inspections and corrections to water sealing systems mandatory.
Relevant technical points:
Service Bulletins and ADs recommend inspection of couplings and water sealing systems, due to the risk of short circuits from types of water (potable, waste, etc.) that carry conductive ions.
Documentation from Boeing, GE, and FAA/EASA details that, if the thrust lever position (TRA) signal fails, the EECs enter a safe mode with fuel cutoff to prevent unintended engine commands.
Pilots cannot regain thrust until electronic communication is re-established, making this scenario gravely critical at low altitudes immediately after takeoff.
Lessons learned and recommendations:
This event highlights the importance of strict compliance with Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins, transparent maintenance, and immediate response to known failures.
The FAA and EASA should consider changes in aircraft systems to keep the last valid thrust setting in detected failure scenarios immediately after takeoff or inhibit such protection logic until a certain altitude is reached, mitigating risks at low altitude.
Safe Flights!
Sources:
Preliminary Report AAIB India – Air India AI171
FAA Airworthiness Directives (AD) 2025-09-12: Water ingress Boeing 787 electronics bay
Boeing Alert Service Bulletins (Drainage and water ingress protection on 787 aircraft)
NTSB participation in the investigation
Technical descriptions: Boeing 787 AMM, GE GEnx-1B EEC System, FAA AC 33.28-1
This content can be validated using public reports from the above agencies and official bulletins from Boeing and FAA.
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