The families of four victims of the deadly Air India Flight 171 crash have filed a lawsuit in the United States against Boeing and Honeywell, accusing the companies of negligence and knowingly allowing a “defective” design to remain in service.
The suit alleges that faulty fuel switches on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner caused the June crash, which killed 260 people, including 19 on the ground. A preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found that fuel to the engines was cut off just moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad, sending the London-bound flight plummeting into a residential area.
According to the lawsuit, a fuel switch was inadvertently moved from “run” to “cut-off,” shutting down thrust to both engines. The families argue that the design allowed this to happen too easily, calling it a catastrophic defect. They say Boeing and Honeywell knew of the risk as far back as 2018, when the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory urging — but not requiring — inspections of the switch locking mechanism.
“And what did Honeywell and Boeing do to prevent the inevitable catastrophe? Nothing,” the filing states, accusing the companies of failing to warn airlines or provide replacement parts.
Boeing has declined to comment on the lawsuit, instead pointing to India’s ongoing investigation. A final crash report is expected in 2026, but the lawsuit could increase pressure on regulators and manufacturers to mandate design fixes for existing aircraft.