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Chip Malfunction Likely Behind AI171 Crash, Not Pilot Error: Former Pilot Analyzes Preliminary Report

“In my reading of the findings, this was not a pilot error. The report seems to suggest the issue originated from a malfunctioning chip,” Chan told Reuters.

TIS Desk | London |

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A preliminary report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) suggests a possible chip malfunction, rather than pilot error, as the cause behind the deadly Air India flight AI171 crash, according to a former pilot interviewed by Reuters.

The tragedy occurred last month when a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft crashed near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, killing all 260 people on board—including 229 passengers, 12 crew members—and 19 others on the ground.

Marco Chan, a senior lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University and a former pilot, said the report stops short of explicitly absolving the cockpit crew, but indicates the likelihood of human error is “close to zero.” The document outlines how both engine fuel cutoff switches were triggered nearly simultaneously, cutting off fuel supply and leading to the fatal crash.

“In my reading of the findings, this was not a pilot error. The report seems to suggest the issue originated from a malfunctioning chip,” Chan told Reuters.

He likened the chip failure to a common computer crash: “It’s like a laptop suffering a blue screen of death—once contact is lost due to overheating or overload, the system can shut down unexpectedly.” He pointed out that the failure might have stemmed from the chip being exposed to high thermal cycles, which could interrupt electrical signals critical to engine operation.

Chan elaborated that the fuel unit failed to receive the proper signal to remain in the “run” position, momentarily cutting off fuel and causing the engines to decelerate mid-flight.

The former pilot also raised important concerns regarding maintenance oversight. He urged investigators to examine whether Air India had adhered to service bulletins mandating inspection or replacement of affected chips.

“The key questions now are whether Air India complied with maintenance requirements, and why the chip-related advisory from GE Aviation and its partner Bowen was issued only as a service bulletin instead of an airworthiness directive,” Chan said.

The full cause of the AI171 disaster is still under investigation, but this early analysis has already shifted focus toward potential technical and regulatory lapses rather than human error.

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