The families of four passengers who died in the June Air India crash have filed a lawsuit against Boeing and Honeywell, alleging that negligence and a defective fuel cutoff switch led to the disaster, which killed 260 people.
Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12 while en route to London.
In a complaint filed Tuesday in Delaware Superior Court, the plaintiffs claimed that the locking mechanism for the switch on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner could be accidentally turned off or missing, cutting off the fuel supply and causing a loss of thrust during takeoff.
They argued that Boeing, which installed the switch, and Honeywell, which manufactured it, were aware of this risk—especially after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning in 2018 about disengaged locking mechanisms on several Boeing aircraft.
A preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) stated that Air India had not performed the recommended inspections. Maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which houses the fuel switches, had been replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the aircraft involved in the crash.
A cockpit recording suggests the captain cut fuel to the engines.
The lawsuit claims the switches are positioned in a way that makes them prone to being accidentally activated, “effectively guaranteeing that normal cockpit activity could result in an inadvertent fuel cutoff.”
However, aviation safety experts told Reuters the switches are unlikely to be accidentally flipped due to their location and design.
Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia, declined to comment. Honeywell, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Both companies are incorporated in Delaware.
This appears to be the first U.S. lawsuit related to the crash. It seeks unspecified damages for the deaths of Kantaben Dhirubhai Paghadal, Naavya Chirag Paghadal, Kuberbhai Patel, and Babiben Patel, who were among the 229 passengers killed. Twelve crew members and 19 people on the ground also died. One passenger survived. The plaintiffs are citizens of India or the UK.
Investigators from India, the UK, and the U.S. have not yet determined the cause of the crash. The AAIB’s preliminary report in July appeared to clear Boeing and engine-maker GE Aerospace of blame, though some family groups have criticized investigators and media for focusing too much on the pilots’ actions.
In July, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford expressed “high confidence” that a mechanical issue or accidental movement of fuel control components was not responsible.
While most crashes result from multiple factors, legal experts note that victims’ families often target manufacturers because they face fewer liability limits than airlines. This approach can also improve the chances of filing in U.S. courts, which are generally seen as more favorable to plaintiffs.
Boeing faced over $20 billion in legal and other costs following two fatal crashes of its 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019. The bestselling plane was grounded for 20 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the families of Air India crash victims suing Boeing designed to be clear and helpful
General Background Questions
1 What is this lawsuit about
This is a lawsuit filed by the families of the 157 people who died on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019 They are suing the airplane manufacturer Boeing claiming a flawed flight control system on the 737 MAX 8 aircraft was responsible for the crash
2 Which specific crash does this refer to
This refers to the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10 2019 All 157 people on board were killed This happened just five months after a similar crash of a Lion Air 737 MAX in Indonesia that killed 189 people
3 Why are they suing Boeing and not the airline
The families allege that the root cause of the crash was a fundamental design flaw in the aircraft created by Boeing not errors by the pilots or the airline
4 Is this a new lawsuit
New lawsuits from different families are still being filed but the initial legal action began shortly after the crash in 2019 The process is ongoing due to the complexity and scale of the litigation
Legal Process Details
5 What are the families suing for
They are seeking financial compensation for their immense loss known as damages This is intended to cover things like lost future income of the victims funeral costs and the emotional pain and suffering of the families left behind
6 Where is the lawsuit taking place
Many of these lawsuits are being handled in a US federal court in Chicago Illinois because Boeing is headquartered there
7 Has Boeing admitted fault
Boeing has not explicitly admitted full legal liability in the civil suits from families However in 2021 the company did reach a deferred prosecution agreement with the US Department of Justice admitting that two of its employees misled regulators about MCAS This admission is heavily used as evidence in the families lawsuits
8 What is the MCAS system they keep mentioning
MCAS is an automated flight control system on the 737 MAX It was designed to automatically push the planes nose down under
