In early 2024, Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour publicly raised concerns about structural flaws in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, warning of a “catastrophic” failure if the design and manufacturing shortcuts weren’t addressed. His disclosure led to a federal investigation in the U.S., but his voice wasn’t the only one.
Just months later, another whistleblower, John Barnett, who had worked at Boeing for more than 30 years, was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Barnett had been actively testifying in a legal case against Boeing, alleging that the company knowingly installed sub-standard parts in its aircraft and that one in four emergency oxygen systems might not work when needed. While authorities termed his death a suicide, the timing sent ripples through the industry. Both whistleblowers had pointed fingers at the same aircraft family now central to India’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades.
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Every Major Crash Involved a Boeing Jet
A startling common thread runs through all major fatal commercial air crashes in India since 2000: each involved a Boeing aircraft.
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In July 2000, Alliance Air Flight 7412, a Boeing 737-200, crashed in a Patna neighborhood after stalling midair. Sixty people were killed.
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In May 2010, Air India Express Flight 812, a Boeing 737-800, overshot the runway in Mangalore, killing 158 passengers.
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In August 2020, Air India Express Flight 1344, also a Boeing 737-800, broke into four pieces after failing to stop during landing at Kozhikode. Eighteen lives were lost.
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Most recently, on June 12, 2025, Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed just minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 241 on board and 38 people on the ground. Only one passenger survived.
In contrast, aircraft from other manufacturers—like Airbus or Bombardier—have not been involved in any fatal crash in Indian commercial aviation during this time period.
Causes: Pilot Error, Weather… and Mechanical Integrity?
Investigations into these crashes have cited a mix of factors: unstable approaches, pilot fatigue, poor weather, and miscommunication. But none of them ruled out potential mechanical failures, particularly those tied to aircraft design or manufacturing flaws. For instance, in the Patna crash, the 737’s stall characteristics were scrutinized. In the Mangalore case, poor response during a botched landing was a key finding.
These are the same aircraft families that have come under international scrutiny following revelations by Boeing whistleblowers. Issues flagged included defective components being fitted during production and critical oxygen systems failing quality checks. While Indian investigators have not explicitly cited Boeing design flaws as primary causes, the consistency with which Boeing jets feature in fatal crashes raises difficult questions.
A Wake-Up Call for India’s Aviation Oversight?
India’s civil aviation sector has grown rapidly, with Boeing jets comprising a significant portion of its fleet. But with these repeated tragedies, aviation experts are calling for a deeper audit of Boeing’s safety standards in India—beyond routine certification.
Regulatory authorities like the DGCA depend heavily on data provided by aircraft manufacturers. Now, with Boeing facing legal, regulatory, and reputational crises abroad, Indian agencies may need to reconsider how they independently verify safety, especially for wide-body aircraft like the Dreamliner.
Aviation unions and safety bodies are also demanding more transparency and localized testing. “We’ve focused a lot on pilot training—and rightly so,” said a former Indian aviation regulator.
But what about the machine? When there’s a pattern, even if it’s coincidental, you need to look closer.
India’s skies have witnessed too many tragedies. While each had complex causes, the one constant—Boeing aircraft—cannot be ignored. As investigations unfold into the Ahmedabad crash and as whistleblower warnings echo louder, the need for uncompromising vigilance in aviation oversight has never been greater.