The families of four passengers who died in the Air India crash on 12 June in India have filed a lawsuit in the US against aviation giants Boeing and Honeywell, accusing them of “negligence.”
Following the Air India plane crash in Gujarat, India, which claimed the lives of 260 people, the victims’ families have initiated legal action in the United States. According to the BBC, the families of four passengers who died in the crash have sued Boeing and aircraft parts manufacturer Honeywell for “negligence.”
The families allege that faulty fuel switches in the aircraft’s design led to the disaster. They further claim that the companies were aware of this risk but failed to take any preventive measures.
The Plane Crash in India
On 12 June, an Air India aircraft departing from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad for London Gatwick crashed into the Meghani Nagar residential area shortly after take-off. A total of 260 people, including passengers and crew, lost their lives.
Preliminary Report: Fuel Flow Cut Off
According to the preliminary report released to the public, fuel flow to both engines was cut off seconds after take-off. This caused the engines to shut down, leading the aircraft to lose thrust and crash.
Following the crash, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered all Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft in the country to have their fuel switches inspected by 21 July.
Air India later announced that inspections had been completed and no issues had been detected in its current fleet.
Legal Proceedings Begin in the US
The lawsuit filed by the victims’ families has once again put international aviation safety under the spotlight. Experts suggest the case will not only involve compensation claims but could also influence aircraft manufacturers’ design responsibilities and safety obligations.
