Aviation safety campaigners in the United States say they have evidence a plane that crashed in India last year had previously suffered a series of technical failures, including an in-flight fire.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed on 12 June, shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad en route to London, killing 260 people.
The Foundation for Aviation Safety, a US campaign group, has sent a presentation to the US Senate outlining its findings, which it says are based on documents that have come into its possession.
The official investigation into the accident is ongoing. However, an interim report published in July sparked widespread speculation and controversy. Boeing declined to comment.
The aircraft involved in the accident, registered as VT-ANB, was one of the earliest 787s to be built. It first flew in late 2013 and entered service with Air India in early 2014.
The Foundation for Aviation Safety alleges that documents indicate the plane experienced system failures from its first day in service. Problems were attributed to a range of engineering, manufacturing, quality, and maintenance issues.
The failures included electronics and software issues, repetitive circuit breaker trips, wiring damage, short circuits, power outages, and overheating of electrical components.
In January 2022, it faced a fire in the P100 power distribution panel, crucial for managing high-voltage power from the engines. This was discovered during a descent into Frankfurt Airport, necessitating a full replacement of the panel.
Despite Boeing's assertion that the 787 is a safe aircraft with a solid operational history, concerns persist about the electrical system's reliance and previous issues, including a major battery fire that led to a temporary grounding of the 787 fleet in 2013.
The Foundation's report has been shared with the US Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which previously addressed concerns about 'Boeing's broken safety culture.' An investigation led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is being conducted, with American officials participating due to the aircraft and engine's US design and construction.
Controversy arose from a preliminary report suggesting that the aircraft’s fuel control switches were moved to the 'cut-off' position shortly after takeoff, causing engine thrust loss. This statement fueled speculation about possible pilot error, provoking backlash from victims' lawyers and safety advocates.
Industry experts acknowledge gaps in crucial information regarding the incident, while the Foundation for Aviation Safety continues its scrutiny of the 787's broader safety credentials, having examined numerous failure reports across multiple aircraft.
