At Ali Law Group, PLLC, we consider it a solemn honor and an unshakable duty to stand beside the families who lost their loved ones in the devastating crash of Air India Flight 171 on June 12, 2025. This was not just an aviation tragedy, it was a human catastrophe, claiming over 260 lives in an instant, including devoted parents, innocent children, dedicated crew, and civilians on the ground who had no connection to the flight but became victims all the same.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, lost all engine power during its initial climb from Ahmedabad, India. According to black box data, both engine fuel cutoff switches toggled to “off” mid-flight, severing fuel to the engines at the worst possible moment. What followed was a powerless descent, desperate recovery attempts by seasoned pilots, and then silence. The plane never had a chance.

We want to be absolutely clear: this was not pilot error. While early reports have cautiously hinted otherwise, we firmly believe these narratives are premature, speculative, and crafted to deflect attention from the true sources of liability. The evidence, especially data from the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR), prior FAA safety bulletins, and the aircraft’s engineering, points not to human mistake, but to dangerous mechanical vulnerabilities, design flaws, and corporate negligence.

This is not just about legal strategy. It is about restoring truth, demanding accountability, and ensuring this never happens again. Families deserve more than condolences. They deserve justice, and that is exactly what we are here to pursue.

What Went Wrong?

Based on our ongoing investigation and a detailed review of official reports, technical documentation, and flight data, we have serious concerns regarding the reliability and installation of certain fuel control components on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash of Air India Flight 171.

Specifically, attention has focused on the Honeywell 4TL837-3D toggle switches, engine fuel cutoff switches located directly behind the thrust levers in the cockpit. These switches are designed to control the flow of fuel to each engine, and are typically described by manufacturers and distributors as “pull-to-unlock” components, which, when functioning properly, require an intentional upward motion before toggling between positions.

However, according to records and technical advisories, including a 2018 FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB NM-18-33), there were past instances where similar switches were delivered or installed with their locking features disengaged or missing. The FAA did not mandate corrective action, but it did recommend inspections to ensure that the locking mechanisms were engaged, particularly because improper configuration could increase the risk of unintended fuel cutoff.

It is not yet known with certainty whether the switches installed on the aircraft at issue were defective, improperly configured, improperly placed, or subject to maintenance oversights. However, the evidence recovered thus far, including black box data and the sequence of events during takeoff, is consistent with a scenario in which both engine fuel switches transitioned to the 'cutoff' position unexpectedly, raising legitimate questions about design, maintenance, or installation integrity.

At this time, we are not alleging intentional misconduct or assigning definitive fault. Rather, we are pursuing answers on behalf of grieving families and evaluating whether this tragic event could have been prevented through better engineering, clearer warnings, or more proactive safety practices by those involved in the design, manufacture, and oversight of critical aircraft components.

We believe that any device controlling engine power, especially during the most vulnerable phases of flight, must be held to the highest standards of safety and redundancy. Our ongoing inquiry will focus squarely on whether those standards were met here, and whether known risks were overlooked.

Our Belief: This Was Not Pilot Error

We are aware that preliminary summaries from official sources have suggested that pilot error may have contributed to the crash. However, based on our review of the black box data, the switch layout, the FAA’s prior technical advisories, and discussions with highly experienced commercial pilots, we believe those conclusions may be premature and potentially misleading.

In our view, attributing the crash to pilot error before a full investigation is complete risks oversimplifying a far more complex issue. It may also obscure the role of critical component placement, mechanical vulnerabilities, or design decisions that warrant deeper scrutiny.

The aircraft’s engine fuel cutoff switches, positioned just behind the thrust levers, are known to be in a high-contact zone during takeoff and climb. If these switches lacked properly engaged locking mechanisms, and if no warnings were provided about such risks, then the possibility of an inadvertent fuel cutoff due to design shortcomings becomes a central question, one that should not be overshadowed by speculation about pilot behavior.

We do not make conclusive claims. But we strongly believe that every contributing factor deserves full transparency, and that families should not accept easy answers when lives have been lost under preventable circumstances.

Our Litigation Plan

In pursuit of justice for the families affected by the crash of Air India Flight 171, Ali Law Group, PLLC has joined forces with a respected coalition of legal advocates, led by The Lanier Law Firm, PC, and including Dalton & Associates and Panchal Law Firm, PC. Together, we have filed suit in the Delaware Superior Court against The Boeing Company and Honeywell International, Inc. on behalf of grieving families who lost their loved ones in this tragedy.

Our legal strategy is grounded in the facts currently available and the legal duties owed by those responsible for designing, manufacturing, and integrating critical aircraft systems. The claims being asserted include:

Strict products liability

Negligent design and failure to warn

Gross negligence

Survival and wrongful death

Punitive damages, where applicable under state law

The allegations set forth in the complaint describe how certain components, specifically, engine fuel cutoff switches, were placed in locations known to be high-traffic areas for pilots’ hands, and may have been installed without proper safety configurations. Based on information uncovered thus far, we believe Boeing, Honeywell, and related entities either knew or should have known that the design and configuration of these switches presented a hazard under real-world operating conditions. The complaint outlines how these defendants continued to install such switches, declined to implement widespread corrective measures, and failed to issue clear and effective warnings to operators and crew.

To ensure these claims are heard in courts that have both jurisdiction and a meaningful connection to the conduct at issue, we have conducted a comprehensive forum analysis. We are strategically prosecuting this case in Delaware, and are also evaluating additional venues including Virginia, South Carolina, and Washington, each of which has strong ties to the design, manufacturing, or corporate governance functions of the defendants.

This litigation is about more than recovering damages. It is about uncovering the full truth, ensuring accountability, and making certain that manufacturers who sell and ship aircraft components across international borders are held to the highest safety standards, no matter where a crash occurs.

What Families Should Know

Families who lost loved ones in the Air India Flight 171 tragedy should know that you do not need to be a U.S. citizen to pursue justice through the American legal system. If the aircraft or its critical components were designed, manufactured, or assembled in the United States, you may have the legal right to bring claims in U.S. courts.

In fact, many of the key entities involved in this incident, such as Boeing and Honeywell, are American corporations headquartered in states like Virginia, South Carolina, and Washington, where we believe courts will properly recognize jurisdiction over these claims.

The United States provides:

• Stronger consumer protections
• Broader legal discovery rights
• Substantially higher damage awards than most foreign jurisdictions

We are currently working closely with aviation engineers, former FAA advisors, aircraft design experts, and international legal partners to ensure that every potentially liable party is identified and held accountable under the law. Our collaboration with leading firms across borders reflects our commitment to pursuing every legal avenue on behalf of grieving families.

How Ali Law Group Can Help

At Ali Law Group, PLLC, we understand the gravity of what has happened. The families we represent are not case number, they are grieving parents, children, siblings, and spouses who deserve answers, respect, and meaningful accountability.

We are committed to:

• Vigorously prosecuting claims against Boeing, Honeywell, and any other parties found to have played a role in the sequence of events that led to this tragedy.
• Advocating for global families, regardless of nationality, to ensure that every affected individual has equal access to the protections of U.S. law, including those unfamiliar with the American legal system.
• Pursuing the fullest remedies available under law, including claims for wrongful death, survival damages, and where appropriate, punitive damages designed to deter future harm.
• Upholding compassion, transparency, and integrity in every step of the litigation process. Families deserve the truth. They deserve clear communication. And they deserve to feel heard.

If your family was affected by the crash of Air India Flight 171, we encourage you to reach out today. There may be important legal deadlines, both in the United States and internationally, that limit the time available to bring claims.

We are here to listen. We are here to investigate.
And most importantly, we are here to fight, for answers, for justice, and for the memory of those who should still be with us.