Air India plane crash: UK-based legal firm Keystone Law has raised two critical concerns regarding the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171, which killed 260 people on June 12. The firm, known for its aviation litigation expertise, has been retained by the families of several British victims and is closely monitoring the ongoing investigation in coordination with technical experts and authorities.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), crashed just minutes after takeoff. Of the 242 passengers and crew on board, only one person survived. The crash also caused 19 fatalities on the ground, as the aircraft hit a hostel block at BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad.
Pratt said, “This is an incredibly sensitive time for the AI 171 families, and we are supporting them through the various processes in the UK and the US. On the air safety aspects, our technical investigation team believes that the RAT was automatically deployed. This suggests a serious systems failure around the critical point of take-off.”
He further added, “Serious questions will need to be asked of both Air India and Boeing once the preliminary report is published in the coming weeks. The families of AI 171 want truth and justice, and we stand in solidarity with them.”
What are the key questions?
In a public statement, Keystone Law emphasised that its investigation is focused on two core anomalies:
- The immediate deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) after takeoff.
- The loss of thrust in both engines, which is considered extremely rare in commercial aviation.
James Healy-Pratt and Owen Hanna, aviation partners at Keystone, are leading the legal team representing nearly 20 British families. They stressed that the RAT’s activation so early in flight points to a likely system failure at a crucial moment. “We are advising families based on technical evidence, not speculation,” Healy-Pratt noted, adding that the preliminary accident report is expected within days.
Legal action
Keystone Law is coordinating with Air India’s UK legal counsel and insurers, particularly regarding interim compensation. The firm has also confirmed ongoing communication with families in India affected by the crash.
Depending on findings from the aircraft’s Black Boxes, Healy-Pratt said legal action could be pursued in the UK High Court or the US Federal Court in Virginia, particularly if evidence points to manufacturing or design faults on Boeing’s part.
British and Indian authorities investigating
The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) teams are actively working with Indian authorities to aid in technical analysis and victim identification. Among the deceased were 52 British nationals, further intensifying the international dimension of the case.