An Indian pilot group has written to the aviation ministry arguing that electrical failure, not pilot action, could have caused the Air India crash that killed 260 people.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), which represents more than 5,000 members, submitted the letter on May 1, ahead of the expected final report into the June 12, 2025 disaster.

What does the pilot group say caused the Air India crash?

The FIP says a pre-takeoff electrical disturbance may have triggered an unintended relay operation, cutting fuel to both engines without any input from the pilots.

The group calls this a “credible cause” requiring further investigation and argues that international aviation rules require all technical causes to be ruled out before pilot error can be established.

What did the preliminary report find?

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) published a preliminary report on July 12, 2025, one month after the crash as required by international law.

That 15-page document found that fuel supply to the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s engines was cut off moments before impact, raising questions about possible pilot error. It did not specify whether the fuel switches were turned off by the crew or by a malfunction.

Why are pilots pushing back on the investigation?

The FIP letter, seen by AFP, states that media coverage has continued to point to pilot action as the likely cause. The group argues this framing is premature, citing International Civil Aviation Organization rules that require investigators to eliminate all credible technical causes first. “Technical causes cannot be ruled out till this analysis is made,” the letter states.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad in western India, killing all 260 people on board. The final report into the Air India crash is expected by next month, within a year of the disaster.