LONDON— Keystone Law, a UK-based legal firm, has raised two critical questions regarding the Air India (AI) flight AI171 crash. The incident involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), which crashed shortly after takeoff on June 12, killing 260 people.
The law firm, formally retained by British families of victims, is closely monitoring the investigation. It has identified the deployment of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) and the loss of thrust in both engines as core issues needing urgent clarification.
UK Law Firm on Air India Crash
Keystone Law, known for its aviation litigation practice, has publicly stated its focus on uncovering the underlying causes of the crash of Air India flight AI171.
The aircraft departed from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) and was headed to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) when it crashed, resulting in 260 fatalities—242 passengers and crew, and 19 people on the ground.
According to the law firm, its aviation team, supported by global technical experts, is prioritizing two serious concerns:
- Why the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed immediately after takeoff.
- What led to the sequential loss of thrust in both engines?
James Healy-Pratt and Owen Hanna, aviation partners at Keystone Law, are coordinating closely with nearly 20 British families affected by the crash.
The team is also working alongside Air India’s UK legal representatives and insurers, particularly on interim compensation measures.
Healy-Pratt stated that the RAT’s automatic deployment indicates a likely systems failure during the most critical phase of flight, immediately after takeoff.
He emphasized that their advice to families will remain “evidence-based,” especially as the preliminary accident report is expected within days.
Anticipation Builds for Preliminary Report
Keystone Law is preparing families for all possible outcomes from the investigation report. The law firm believes that the upcoming findings from the aircraft’s Black Boxes will shed light on why the aircraft lost thrust in both engines and how a RAT deployment occurred so soon after liftoff—two anomalies that should not coincide during normal operations.
Healy-Pratt noted that the law firm may consider legal proceedings in the UK High Court or the US Federal Court in Virginia, potentially targeting Boeing if evidence supports such action. He also revealed that, besides the UK-based victims, the firm is now in communication with several families in India.
Air India flight AI171, operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed minutes after departing from AMD on June 12. It was bound for LGW and had 242 people on board.
Only one survived. Additionally, the aircraft crashed into the hostel block of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad, killing 19 on the ground.
Among the deceased, 52 were British nationals. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) teams are working closely with Indian authorities to support technical analysis and DNA identification of victims.
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