Wed Sep 17 20:56:55 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Lawsuit Alleges Faulty Fuel Switches Caused Deadly Air India Crash
**WILMINGTON, DE** – The families of four passengers killed in the devastating Air India Flight 171 crash in June have filed a lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court, alleging that faulty fuel switches were to blame for the accident. The lawsuit names Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, and Honeywell, the switch manufacturer, as defendants.
The suit claims the Boeing 787’s fuel cutoff switches were prone to accidental activation due to their placement in the cockpit, leading to the engine failure that caused the plane to crash shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London. The crash resulted in the deaths of 260 people, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground.
The lawsuit references a 2018 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory that recommended, but did not mandate, inspections of the fuel cutoff switches’ locking mechanism on several Boeing models, including the 787.
However, the India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)’s preliminary investigation report into the crash stated that Air India had not conducted the suggested inspections, and that maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash.The report noted “all applicable airworthiness directives and alert service bulletins were complied with on the aircraft as well as engines.”
A cockpit recording suggests the captain cut the fuel flow to the engines, a detail highlighted in the lawsuit to support the argument that the switch design facilitated accidental actuation. However, aviation safety experts have disputed the claim that the switches could be inadvertently flipped, citing their location and design.
The FAA has previously stated that the fuel switches do not appear to have caused the accident.
The lawsuit is the first known legal action in the United States related to the crash and seeks unspecified damages for the deaths of Kantaben Dhirubhai Paghadal, Naavya Chirag Paghadal, Kuberbhai Patel and Babiben Patel.
Boeing declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, while Honeywell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The AAIB’s preliminary report has been criticized by some victims’ families who feel it focuses too heavily on the pilots’ actions. Legal experts note that manufacturers are often targeted in aviation lawsuits due to fewer liability limitations compared to airlines, and the potential for accessing more favorable legal outcomes in U.S. courts.
Following news of the lawsuit, Boeing stock closed slightly lower, while Honeywell rebounded from an earlier dip to finish up slightly for the day.
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