Families Sue Boeing and Honeywell Following Air India Flight 171 Crash

The families of four passengers who died on an Air India jet that crashed in June have filed a lawsuit in the US against planemaker Boeing and aircraft parts maker Honeywell, accusing the companies of negligence.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday, and seen by the BBC, said faulty fuel switches caused the accident and accused the companies of doing nothing despite being aware of the risks of the aircraft's design.

Air India Flight 171, bound for London Gatwick, a Boeing 787, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.

Fuel switches have become a focus for investigators after a preliminary inquiry found that fuel to the engines was cut off moments after the plane left the ground.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated previously that fuel control switches in Boeing aeroplanes are safe. The BBC has contacted Boeing and Honeywell for a response, but Boeing did not comment on the case, referring instead to India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's preliminary investigation report.

The lawsuit alleges that both firms were aware of the risk of a crash since they developed and marketed the 787 Dreamliner and its components. The complaint referenced a 2018 FAA advisory that urged—yet did not mandate—operators to inspect the fuel switches' locking mechanism to avoid accidental movement, which could cut off fuel supply.

In the case of Air India Flight 171, the switch was moved from run to the cut-off position, impacting the plane's thrust, according to the AAIB's preliminary investigation report. The families described this as a design defect that allowed unintended fuel supply interruptions, resulting in a total loss of thrust.

The lawsuit's claim states: And what did Honeywell and Boeing do to prevent the inevitable catastrophe? Nothing. They also accused the companies of failing to warn airlines about necessary inspections and repairs of the switches and neglecting to supply replacement parts for installation.

Boeing and Honeywell sat idly by while only suggesting in a mild advisory that inspections of the switches be conducted, according to the families represented by Texas-based Lanier Law Firm.

A more detailed report into the crash is expected in 2026. The crash resulted in 229 passengers, 12 cabin crew, and 19 individuals on the ground losing their lives.