Air India Sued in London Over June 2025 Ahmedabad Crash

Air India is facing legal action in the United Kingdom over the June 2025 crash of a passenger jet that killed 260 people, according to reports.

A personal injury lawsuit was filed in the UK High Court on December 18 by 11 claimants representing the estates and relatives of some of those who died in the accident. 

The case stems from the June 12 crash of a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating an Air India service from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport. The aircraft lost height seconds after takeoff and struck a medical college hostel, erupting into a fireball. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived. The crash also killed 19 people on the ground.

The London lawsuit adds to a widening set of international legal actions linked to the disaster. Separately, families of four passengers have filed civil suits in the United States against Boeing and Honeywell, the manufacturer of the aircraft’s fuel switches. Those lawsuits allege that faulty hardware contributed to the crash and seek damages from the companies.

According to a preliminary report by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), both engines lost thrust shortly after takeoff. Flight data showed that the engine fuel control switches moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” while the aircraft was airborne. Investigators have said the probe is ongoing and that no final cause has been established.

The findings have intensified scrutiny over possible technical failures, maintenance issues and operational factors. Pilot unions and representatives of the cockpit crew’s families have rejected any suggestion of intentional pilot action and have urged caution until the final report is released.

Families of victims are pursuing legal action abroad as part of efforts to seek accountability and compensation through courts where aircraft manufacturers and component suppliers are based. Major aviation accidents are often litigated in multiple jurisdictions, particularly where companies involved in the aircraft’s design and production operate.

For Air India, the lawsuit in London adds to the financial and reputational pressure following one of the deadliest aviation accidents in the country’s history. Boeing and its suppliers named in the US cases also face potential liability depending on the outcome of the investigation.

Regulators have ordered additional inspections of Boeing 787 aircraft while emphasising that the AAIB report is only preliminary. Investigators continue to analyse flight recorders, maintenance documents, wiring systems and supplier data. A final report is expected in the coming months.

Until then, court proceedings in both the UK and the United States are likely to continue alongside the technical investigation, shaping questions of responsibility and compensation linked to the crash.

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