A preliminary investigation into the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787 has revealed that a defective locking mechanism in the captain’s seat triggered the chain of events that led to the deaths of 270 people, including passengers, crew, and residents on the ground.
According to the report, the fatal incident occurred during takeoff when the captain’s seat unexpectedly slid backward.
This movement caused the pilot’s hands to accidentally pull the throttle levers into the idle position, resulting in a sudden and catastrophic loss of engine thrust just moments after liftoff.
With the aircraft at only 214 feet in the air, it stalled and plunged into a nearby building used to house medical staff. Efforts by the co-pilot to recover control were reportedly hindered by the captain’s reclined position, making it impossible to access the controls effectively.
Critical data from the cockpit revealed the timeline:
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+12 seconds: Captain’s seat slides back
+15 seconds: Co-pilot shouts, “We’re losing thrust!”
+26 seconds: Aircraft stalls
Investigators also highlighted serious safety deficiencies in the 787’s throttle design, including the lack of reverse-motion protection and absence of weight-based lockouts—features that could have prevented the throttle levers from being accidentally disengaged.
In response to the findings, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have ordered immediate inspections of all Boeing 787 pilot seats. Air India has grounded 12 aircraft with similar maintenance profiles, while Boeing has pledged to redesign the seat system by 2026.
A single British national is the sole survivor of the crash. The final investigation report is expected in July, with global aviation regulators vowing tougher oversight and industry-wide reforms to prevent a recurrence.
