Archive · 9 Aug 2025
Expert Pinpoints Water Ingress in AI 171 Crash
An expert looked closely at the Air India plane crash and thinks water got into important electrical parts.
This might have caused the engines to fail at the same time.
The expert says the pilots didn't make a mistake.
Instead, the plane might not have been well-maintained, or didn't follow all the rules.
When the engines cut out, it was too late for the backup system to work.
This caused the plane to crash.
The investigation highlights electrical problems.
Aviation expert Richard Godfrey suggests water ingress in the EE bay as the root cause.
Godfrey's analysis indicates the RAT deployed before engines were switched off.
The AAIB preliminary report noted both engines shut down simultaneously after fuel cutoff.
Godfrey dismisses pilot error, pointing to maintenance and FAA non-compliance.
The investigation highlights the potential for electrical failures due to water ingress.
- Who
- Richard Godfrey (aviation expert), Air India, AAIB, and the pilots.
- What
- Analysis of the Air India 171 crash, with focus on the root cause.
- When
- June 12, 2024, with ongoing investigations and analysis.
- Where
- Ahmedabad, India.
- Why
- To determine the root cause of the crash and prevent similar incidents.
Causes
No Opposing Viewpoints
Water Ingress
Causes
Water ingress into the EE bay as the likely root cause.
No Opposing Viewpoints
No opposing viewpoints are mentioned in the article.
- Aircraft
- Boeing 787
- Expert
- Richard Godfrey
- Likely Cause
- Water Ingress
- Directive
- FAA Airworthiness Directive 2025
- Engine State
- Both shut down simultaneously
Sources
AI 171 crash: 65 families hire US-based law firm
65 families of Air India crash victims from India and UK hire US law firm Beasley Allen - Telegraph India
AI 171 crash: 65 families hire US law firm Beasley Allen for legal battle
Air India AI171 plane crash victims' families to file suit in US? Lawyer Mike Andrews says ‘because the plane…’
US law firm to represent 65 families who lost kin in Air India crash; preliminary report creates confusion, says lawyer
Air India crash victims’ families demand immediate release of flight recorders, hire US-based lawyer
