New Delhi – As investigators continue to examine the causes of the recent Air India crash, an aviation safety expert has called for the probe to include a thorough analysis of the aircraft’s stabilizer system, suggesting that a mechanical fault may have played a role in the tragedy.
The expert, who has over two decades of experience in aircraft accident investigation, told Aviation Nexus that based on the limited flight data currently available and preliminary reports, a failure in the horizontal stabilizer—crucial for pitch control—cannot be ruled out.
“Early indicators point to abnormal pitch movements just before the loss of control,” the expert said, requesting anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the investigation. “In such scenarios, the horizontal stabilizer should be one of the first components examined for potential failure or runaway trim conditions.”
The crash, which occurred earlier this month during descent into Mumbai, involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner operating a scheduled flight from Dubai. All 232 passengers and crew members were evacuated safely after the aircraft made a hard landing and veered off the runway, sustaining significant damage to its undercarriage and fuselage. While there were no fatalities, several passengers suffered minor injuries.
Initial statements from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) noted “anomalies in flight control inputs,” but stopped short of confirming a mechanical issue. However, the DGCA has since confirmed it is working with Boeing and Air India to retrieve and decode data from the aircraft’s flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR).
The expert’s comments come amid growing calls from aviation unions and industry stakeholders for the probe to go beyond pilot performance and include a full systems audit.
“There’s a tendency to focus heavily on crew actions in the early stages of such investigations, which is understandable,” said Captain Arvind Bansal, a former Air India training captain. “But given the advanced automation and complex fly-by-wire systems of the 787, mechanical or software anomalies must be treated with equal seriousness.”
Boeing has not commented on the stabilizer theory but said in a statement that it is providing “full technical support” to Indian authorities.
This isn’t the first time the stabilizer system has come under scrutiny. Past incidents involving other airlines have shown that malfunctions—particularly in the trim actuator or software logic—can lead to pitch instability or loss of control if not promptly corrected.
“If the stabilizer fault is confirmed,” the expert added, “it will raise serious questions about both aircraft maintenance protocols and the robustness of flight control monitoring systems.”
The findings from this investigation could have significant implications for Air India’s operational procedures and possibly for Boeing, depending on the conclusions drawn.
Until then, the industry watches closely, hoping that the probe will be comprehensive and transparent—ensuring that both mechanical reliability and human performance are equally weighed.
