#JustIn: Whistleblower Report Reveals Decade-Long Electrical Issues in Air India Boeing 787

A US-based aviation safety advocacy group has raised fresh questions over the safety of the Air India Boeing 787-8 that crashed near Ahmedabad on June 12, claiming the aircraft faced persistent electrical, maintenance, and manufacturing issues throughout its 11-year service. The allegations were submitted in a whistleblower report to the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on January 12.

The Foundation for Aviation Safety, which filed the report, highlighted repeated electrical system malfunctions, including unexpected power interruptions, circuit faults, component overheating, and smoke incidents. The group claims these were not isolated events but part of systemic technical deficiencies, including design vulnerabilities and lapses in quality control and maintenance practices.

The whistleblower also referenced a serious electrical fire in one of the aircraft’s power distribution panels several years ago, after which major components were replaced. The report argues that such chronic technical issues may have contributed to or influenced the catastrophic chain of events during the crash, challenging preliminary investigations that focused mainly on pilot actions and cockpit procedures.

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The Boeing 787 aircraft went down shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing all passengers and crew on board. While India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau continues its probe with international assistance, the report has intensified scrutiny of the aircraft’s operational history and raised questions about the broader safety record of the Boeing 787 fleet worldwide.

The advocacy group warned that similar electrical and system reliability issues have been logged across multiple Boeing 787 aircraft globally, urging regulators to reassess certification standards, maintenance oversight, and reporting mechanisms to prevent future accidents. Both Boeing and Air India have refrained from commenting directly, stressing that conclusions should await the final investigation report.

Aviation experts note that the Boeing 787’s reliance on complex electrical systems enhances efficiency but increases dependency on robust power management and software integrity. They caution that aviation accidents typically result from multiple technical, human, and organizational factors, underscoring the importance of thorough investigations into systemic flaws alongside operational analysis.

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