Nearly three months after the crash of Air India Flight AI-102, British aviation specialists are pressing for clarity on unresolved aspects of the investigation. The aircraft, a Boeing 787-9 operating from Delhi to London, encountered catastrophic failure during its descent into Heathrow on March 8, resulting in 118 fatalities. While the preliminary report by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) cited a sudden loss of engine power and hydraulic systems, a group of UK-based investigators contends that critical questions remain unanswered.
Speaking exclusively to this correspondent, the team applied pressure on both Indian authorities and Boeing to release additional data. Their concerns centre around six specific issues: the sequence of warnings in the cockpit, the role of a software override that may have been activated during the emergency, the condition of the right engine’s fan blades, the flight data recorder’s missing final minutes, the crew’s communication with air traffic control, and the structural integrity of the tail section after impact.
A senior UK aeronautical engineer stated that the preliminary report was “incomplete in its analysis of human factors and systems integration.” The engineer emphasised that without a full transcript of cockpit voice recordings and independent verification of the damage to the tail fin, “any conclusion about causation remains speculative.”
These developments have ramifications for the broader relationship between the UK and India on aviation safety. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has offered support to the Indian team, but its role remains advisory. UK aviation analysts note that Britain’s reputation as a hub for rigorous post-accident scrutiny gives its experts a platform to press for transparency.
The families of the victims, many of whom are British citizens of Indian origin, have expressed frustration at the pace of the inquiry. A spokesperson for a support group said, “We need clear answers, not bureaucratic delays. My father was on that flight. We deserve to know what truly happened.”
In response, a DGCA official reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and that international protocols are being followed. The official added that the final report will include a detailed analysis of all relevant systems.
For now, the six questions persist, casting a shadow over the narrative that the crash was solely a mechanical failure. As the anniversary approaches, the demand for answers grows louder, not only from the bereaved but from a global aviation community that cannot afford to let these queries fade away.
