The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to conduct a thorough evaluation of electrical, electronic and avionics-related evidence in its ongoing investigation into the Air India flight AI-171 Boeing 787 crash. In a formal letter dated 19 September 2026, FIP President Captain CS Randhawa stressed that all available technical information must be examined to reinforce aviation safety standards.

FIP's Core Demand

The pilots' body pointed to multiple letters and technical notes it had previously submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the AAIB, raising concerns about reported electrical system issues on Boeing 787 aircraft and their possible links to the June 2025 accident involving aircraft VT-ANB. The FIP specifically called for scrutiny of technical material submitted by the Foundation for Aviation Safety (FAS), which reportedly contains documentation covering the aircraft's operational history, maintenance actions, recurring system anomalies and fault indications.

Notably, the FIP stated that the AAIB had already acknowledged receiving and reviewing this material through a UK AAIB expert — lending weight to calls for its formal integration into the investigation record.

Why the Boeing 787's Architecture Matters

At the heart of the FIP's technical argument is the Boeing 787's 'More Electric Aircraft' architecture — a highly integrated design in which electrical generation, distribution, monitoring and data-network systems are central to safe operation. The federation argued that recurring technical faults, intermittent failures, power interruptions, software resets, sensor discrepancies and maintenance troubleshooting records could collectively offer important clues about accident causation.

This concern is not new. Aviation safety researchers have noted that the 787's reliance on electrical systems for functions traditionally handled mechanically means that a chain of electrical anomalies, even individually minor, can have compounding effects on flight safety.

Key Technical Systems Under Scrutiny

The FIP called for investigators to examine a broad range of systems including Integrated Modular Avionics, flight management and flight-control computers, battery systems, power-control units, and onboard aircraft data networks. It also sought a detailed review of historical maintenance and reliability data, covering technical log entries, deferred defects, repetitive fault reports, troubleshooting records, component replacements, reliability monitoring data and engineering corrective actions throughout the aircraft's service life.

Investigators were further urged to correlate data from flight recorders, Aircraft Health Monitoring (AHM) systems, ACARS transmissions, maintenance databases, Built-In Test Equipment reports and manufacturer service records — a call for a multi-source evidentiary approach that goes beyond standard post-accident procedure.

What This Means for the Investigation

The FIP's intervention signals growing institutional pressure on the AAIB to widen its evidentiary net in what is already one of India's most closely watched aviation accident probes. The AI-171 crash, which involved a Boeing 787 registered as VT-ANB, has drawn scrutiny from pilots, regulators and safety bodies since it occurred in June 2025. The involvement of UK AAIB experts further underscores the international dimension of the inquiry.

With the probe ongoing, the outcome of this investigation is expected to shape regulatory guidance on Boeing 787 fleet management and electrical-system oversight across Indian carriers.