The families of four passengers killed in the Air India Flight 171 crash have filed a lawsuit against American aircraft manufacturer Boeing and technology company Honeywell. The families allege that the companies' negligence and a faulty fuel cutoff switch contributed to the crash. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad to London on June 12, killing a total of 260 people.

Complaint in Delaware Superior Court
In a complaint filed Tuesday in Delaware Superior Court, the victims' families allege that the locking mechanism of the fuel cutoff switch on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner can inadvertently become disengaged or disabled. This could result in a halt in fuel supply and a reduction in thrust required for takeoff.

The complaint alleges that Boeing and Honeywell, which manufactured and installed the switch, were aware of the defect despite a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2018. The FAA had warned that the locking mechanism on many Boeing aircraft is prone to accidental disengagement.

Companies accused of negligence
The family alleged that the switch was located directly behind the thrust lever, which could have inadvertently triggered a fuel cutoff during normal cockpit operations. The complaint stated, "Honeywell and Boeing took no concrete steps to prevent this disaster." Boeing declined to comment on Wednesday, while Honeywell did not immediately respond.

260 people died in the accident
229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground were killed in the accident. Only one passenger survived. In the lawsuit, the families of four of the deceased passengers—Kantaben Dhirubhai Paghdal, Navya Chirag Paghdal, Kuberbhai Patel, and Babyben Patel—are seeking compensation.

Investigative agencies have yet to reach a conclusion
Indian, British, and American investigators have yet to determine the exact cause of the accident. The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's preliminary report identified cockpit confusion as the primary precursor to the crash. The FAA stated in July that mechanical failure or a fuel control error was considered highly unlikely.

Boeing's Controversial History
Boeing has previously faced legal and financial troubles. Following two fatal crashes involving its 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019, the company was grounded for 20 months and faced legal and other costs of over $20 billion.