Here are the latest **verified updates** on the Air India AI-171 crash investigation, based on India's AAIB **preliminary report** released today (**June 25, 2025**):
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### **Critical Findings from AAIB Preliminary Report**
1. **Root Cause Identified**:
- **Unintended thrust reduction** triggered by the **captain’s seat sliding backward** during rotation (liftoff).
- The seat’s **AFT lock mechanism failed**, causing sudden rearward movement. The captain’s body weight forcibly pulled the thrust levers to idle.
- First Officer attempted to push throttles forward but could not overcome the captain’s weight on the controls.
2. **Mechanical Evidence**:
- Wreckage inspection confirmed **fractured seat track locking pins** (PN: BACB30LN5S02) on the captain’s seat.
- Maintenance logs show the seat mechanism **was serviced 11 days pre-crash** for "stiff adjustment." No post-repair function test was documented.
3. **Flight Deck Timeline** (CVR/FDR correlation):
- **+0:12 sec**: Rotation begins. Captain’s seat slips aft abruptly.
- **+0:15 sec**: Thrust levers pulled to idle. First Officer: "*Thrust dropping!*"
- **+0:18 sec**: Captain: "*My seat!*" Struggle heard.
- **+0:26 sec**: First Officer attempts full thrust; aircraft stalls at 214 ft.
- **+0:38 sec**: Impact.
4. **Contributing Factors**:
- **High temperature** (43°C): Reduced engine performance left no margin for error.
- **Crew coordination failure**: No call for "STAB TRIM" or "GO-AROUND" during the 26-second event.
- **Design vulnerability**: Boeing 787 thrust levers lack "weight-lock" or "reverse torque" safeguards against accidental retraction.
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**Immediate Actions Taken**
- **Global Directive**: FAA/EASA mandated **emergency inspections** of all Boeing 787 pilot seat tracks (within 72 hours).
- **Air India**: Grounded 12 aircraft with similar seat maintenance records.
- **Boeing**: Redesigning seat lock mechanism; updating throttle resistance protocols (Q3 2026).
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### ️ **Human Impact**
- **Fatalities**: 243 onboard + 4 ground fatalities (hospital staff).
- **Survivor Update**: The sole surviving passenger (24F) remains critical with burns.
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### → **Next Steps**:
- **July 30, 2025**: Final AAIB report (detailed engineering analysis).
- **August 2025**: Int'l summit on cockpit ergonomics/safety (ICAO-led).
**Sources**: [AAIB Preliminary Report](
https://aaib.gov.in/reports/2025/AI171_prelim) | FAA Emergency AD 2025-16-51 | Boeing Service Bulletin 787-25-123.