A preliminary investigation into the recent Air India Boeing 787 disaster has traced the cause of the crash to a mechanical fault in the captain’s seat, which led to a sudden and fatal loss of engine power during takeoff.
The report revealed that the seat unexpectedly slid backward moments after the aircraft left the ground, causing the pilot to inadvertently reduce engine thrust by pulling the throttle levers back to idle.
The critical error triggered an aerodynamic stall, sending the plane crashing into a nearby building that housed healthcare workers.
Efforts by the co-pilot to recover the situation were unsuccessful, as the repositioned seat obstructed access to the necessary flight controls.
Flight data recorded key moments leading up to the crash: At 12 seconds: “The captain’s seat shifts backward, At 15 seconds: The co-pilot yells a warning about engine power loss, At 26 seconds: The aircraft stalls at an altitude of just 214 feet.”
Investigators also pointed out design flaws in the Boeing 787’s throttle system, including the absence of critical safety features such as motion reversal prevention and automated lockouts that respond to aircraft weight.
As a result of the findings, aviation authorities in the U.S. and Europe — the FAA and EASA — have issued directives for urgent inspections of pilot seats in all 787 aircraft.
Air India has also grounded a dozen of its planes that share similar maintenance records.
Boeing has responded by announcing plans to redesign the pilot seat mechanism, with updated models expected to be ready by 2026.
The crash claimed the lives of everyone on board and individuals in the building, leaving only one survivor — a British citizen.
A final report is expected to be released in July. Authorities have pledged stricter oversight and new global safety protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future.