A faulty locking mechanism in the captain’s seat led to the deadly Air India Boeing 787 crash that killed 270 people, a preliminary report has revealed.
The report, issued by investigators examining the June 12 crash of Air India flight 171, notes that the pilot’s seat unexpectedly slid backward during the plane’s takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad.
This unexpected movement caused the captain to accidentally pull back the throttle levers to idle, resulting in a sudden and dangerous loss of engine power just moments after the aircraft had lifted off the ground.
According to investigators, the aircraft stalled within seconds and plunged into a nearby apartment building that housed medical professionals.
All 270 people onboard, including passengers and crew, were killed. Several individuals in the building were also injured, though no additional fatalities were reported on the ground.
Flight data retrieved from the black box shows the sequence of the tragic event. At 12 seconds after takeoff, the captain’s seat unexpectedly shifted back. Just three seconds later, at 15 seconds, the co-pilot shouted, “We’re losing thrust!” as the aircraft began to drop rapidly.
The report notes that the co-pilot tried to take over control of the aircraft but was unable to respond quickly enough because the captain’s reclined position obstructed the controls. The cockpit layout and sudden movement created a situation where the co-pilot had very little space to operate, leading to the loss of control.
Officials involved in the investigation have stated that the seat’s locking system had a history of minor faults in other aircraft of the same model, though none had previously led to a crash. Maintenance logs are now under review to determine if any warnings about the seat’s behavior were ignored or not reported properly.
The crash site, a residential block just two kilometers from the runway, was heavily damaged. Emergency services responded quickly, but the intensity of the crash and resulting fire made rescue efforts difficult.
Air India and Boeing have both said they are fully cooperating with investigators. Boeing has also launched its own internal review of seat designs in its 787 series jets.
