Ahmedabad, December 8, 2025: Mike Andrews, a US-based aviation attorney representing over 130 families affected by the June 12 Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, has called on the Union government to release the aircraft’s flight recorder data. He emphasized that access to this information is essential for transparency and would allow families to consider potential legal recourse.

The crash involved Air India flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft bound for London Gatwick, which crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The disaster claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew members onboard and 19 people on the ground. Only one passenger, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, survived the crash.

Flight Data and Potential Electrical Issues

During his second visit to Gujarat since the tragedy, Andrews highlighted the importance of the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) in understanding the exact cause of the crash. Referring to a recent BBC interview with Ramesh, he noted that flickering lights inside the aircraft, which turned green just before the crash, suggest that the main electrical system may have switched to an emergency or backup mode for reasons yet unknown.

“This could indicate a failure or anomaly in the primary electrical system,” Andrews said, stressing the need to understand why the system switched to emergency mode and the consequences of that failure. He further raised the possibility that water leakage might have contributed to the disruption.

He cited documentation by Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) dating back to 2016, which reported water leaks in areas affecting the electrical systems of certain Boeing 787s. These leaks could potentially interfere with critical computer and electrical equipment. “We know our plane exhibited electrical issues. Understanding the connection between water leakage and these issues is why the FDR data is crucial,” Andrews said.

Legal Implications and Family Representation

Andrews, from the US-based law firm Beasley Allen, represents families from India and the United Kingdom who have lost relatives in the crash. He is exploring legal options, including a potential product liability suit in the US, contingent upon data and findings from the official investigation.

“In the absence of official data, we have had to rely on news reports and interviews with the sole survivor,” Andrews said. “This is not ideal. Families deserve transparency and the full picture of what happened.”

During his visit, Andrews met several relatives of the victims in Ahmedabad, continuing his outreach from an earlier visit in August, when he had toured Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Surat. He plans to travel to Anand, Vadodara, and Mumbai to meet additional families who have opted to pursue legal action.

International Coordination

The Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India is reportedly visiting the United States this month to discuss FDR and CVR data with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Andrews suggested that these discussions may address technical questions arising from preliminary analysis of the data.

To obtain further information from US authorities, Andrews has filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which functions similarly to India’s Right to Information Act. “We want to obtain any investigation details that the FAA may have received from AAIB,” he said, underscoring the need for cross-border transparency in understanding the crash.

Focus on Victims and Transparency

For Andrews and the families he represents, the central issue is obtaining clarity on what went wrong aboard flight AI 171. The survivor’s account, coupled with historical data about potential electrical vulnerabilities in Boeing 787 aircraft, has raised questions that only detailed flight recorder data can answer.

The June 12 crash remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India in recent years, and the ongoing investigation continues to attract attention from legal and aviation experts worldwide. Andrews’ efforts highlight the importance of both technical scrutiny and the rights of victims’ families to obtain critical information.

As the investigation proceeds, Andrews’ advocacy aims to ensure that families are not left in the dark and that any potential systemic issues with the aircraft are thoroughly examined. The request for FDR data is a crucial step toward accountability, understanding the cause of the crash, and preventing similar tragedies in the future.