Boeing 787 Software Glitch Caused Air India Crash: US Aviation Attorney Alleges
KhabriDose.com Aviation Desk: US Aviation Attorney Alleges Boeing 787 Software Glitch Caused Air India Crash; Calls for Independent Probe
New Delhi, India – June 30, 2025 – In a significant and alarming development surrounding the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, a prominent U.S. aviation attorney has publicly claimed that a previously known software glitch in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner may have been a contributing factor. The shocking assertion from Mary Schiavo, former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation, intensifies scrutiny on Boeing’s software systems and places renewed pressure on Indian aviation authorities to conduct a fully independent investigation.
Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad in May 2025, resulting in the tragic loss of 274 lives. Amidst the ongoing investigation by Indian authorities, Schiavo has voiced deep concerns that the aircraft may have suffered a “computer-triggered thrust rollback” – a malfunction where the engine power is drastically reduced mid-flight by the aircraft’s computer systems without pilot intervention.
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian, Schiavo pointed to the Thrust Control Malfunction Accommodation (TCMA) system, a safety feature mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the Boeing 787. This system, which works in conjunction with the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC), relies on computer inputs to determine whether the aircraft is airborne or on the ground. Schiavo warns that if these systems incorrectly classify the aircraft’s status, they could automatically adjust engine settings, leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust.
Schiavo referenced a similar incident in 2019 involving Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA), where a dual engine thrust rollback occurred. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into that event identified the issue as a software design flaw, which subsequently led to corrective measures being ordered across the 787 fleet. “Such computer-triggered thrust reductions would leave distinct signatures in the flight data recorder,” Schiavo emphasized, urging investigators of the AI-171 crash to meticulously analyze this data.
The renowned aviation attorney, who has extensive experience overseeing major air safety investigations and representing families affected by aviation disasters (including 9/11), also drew stark parallels to Boeing’s contentious handling of the 737 MAX MCAS software failures. She suggested that while the world focused on the 737 MAX, the risks within the 787’s complex software systems may not have been fully addressed or adequately disclosed.
Mary Schiavo is now strongly advocating for India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to undertake a comprehensive, independent inquiry into the AI-171 crash, stressing the need for vigilance given Boeing’s involvement as a party to crash investigations. “Investigators need to examine not just what Boeing has provided, but also what it hasn’t,” she stated, urging a thorough review of maintenance records, software update compliance, and any prior alerts.
The potential confirmation of a software fault in the Boeing 787 could lead to significant legal ramifications for both Boeing and Air India and trigger a broader reassessment of software-related risks across the Dreamliner fleet globally. For the grieving families of the AI-171 victims, Schiavo advised active engagement and persistent demand for updates to ensure full accountability and transparency in the ongoing probe.
The aviation industry now awaits the findings of the official investigation with bated breath, as Schiavo’s claims add another critical layer of complexity to the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash.
