By Our Reporter
A mechanical failure in the pilot’s seat has been identified as the primary cause of the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI-171, which claimed 270 lives. A preliminary investigative report released this week confirms that a faulty seat locking mechanism triggered a fatal chain of events just seconds after takeoff from Indira Gandhi International Airport.
According to the black box data, the pilot’s seat unexpectedly slid backward during liftoff. In a reflexive motion, the captain’s hands pulled the throttle levers into the “idle” position, reducing engine thrust at a critical altitude of just 214 feet. The co-pilot attempted to intervene, but was unable to access essential flight controls due to the captain’s reclined position.
Timeline of Tragedy
Flight data and cockpit voice recordings detailed the disaster in chilling precision:
+12 seconds: Seat slides back abruptly
+15 seconds: Co-pilot shouts, “We’re losing thrust!”
+26 seconds: Aircraft stalls and descends rapidly
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner plunged into a nearby building housing medical workers, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and dozens on the ground.
The lone survivor, a British national, remains in critical condition. Among the dead were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, 7 Portuguese, and 1 Canadian.
System Gaps and Lack of Safeguards
Investigators criticized the lack of thrust lever safeguards and emergency protocols in the cockpit. The Boeing 787’s design lacks features like reverse-motion protection or auto-thrust override, which might have prevented the disaster.
Additionally, no emergency commands such as “Go-Around” or “Stabilizer Trim” were issued during the 26-second crisis window.
Immediate Global Response
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have ordered urgent inspections of all Boeing 787 pilot seat mechanisms. Air India has grounded 12 similar aircraft as a precaution.
Boeing has committed to redesigning the seat system, with an update expected by mid-2026.
What’s Next
The final investigation report is due in July 2025. However, aviation regulators and airlines worldwide are already reviewing and tightening maintenance and safety protocols.
A Preventable Disaster
Experts have called the crash a tragic but preventable failure of engineering and emergency preparedness. Aviation safety advocates are urging systemic reforms to ensure such an incident is never repeated.