Air India AI-171 Crash: Investigators Focus on Tail Section for Clues of Possible Electrical Failure

 Investigators Focus on Tail Section in Air India Crash; Possible Electrical Malfunction Under Scanner

Investigators looking into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on June 12 are now zeroing in on the aircraft’s tail section, which may hold vital clues about what caused the disaster. The Boeing Dreamliner had barely lifted off from Runway 23 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport before it came crashing down just 26 seconds into its flight.

While most of the aircraft was destroyed in the fireball that followed the crash, the tail portion—also known as the empennage—was found mostly intact. This has become a crucial piece of evidence for the crash investigation team, which is trying to determine whether an electrical malfunction in that area may have triggered the chain of events leading to the crash.

Sources familiar with the ongoing investigation said that the tail section showed signs of what is being described as a "contained electric fire." This means there was some form of electrical issue, likely involving wiring or components in the tail assembly, but it didn’t spread beyond a limited area. Still, even a small malfunction in such a critical zone during takeoff could be catastrophic.

What’s especially significant is that the tail houses the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)—essentially a small engine that provides backup electrical and hydraulic power when the main engines are not running. In this case, officials say the APU appears to have survived the crash without significant damage. However, other nearby components seem to have experienced high heat or electrical stress, and that’s where investigators are focusing their attention.

Another important discovery is that the tail section was separated from the main fuselage during the crash, likely before the intense post-crash explosion and fire occurred. As a result, this portion of the wreckage did not suffer the extensive charring that affected the rest of the plane. The relatively preserved condition of the empennage could help investigators piece together a clearer timeline of what went wrong—and when.

Unfortunately, not all the equipment in the tail survived unscathed. The rear black box, or Flight Data Recorder (FDR), was significantly damaged, raising concerns about how much flight data can actually be retrieved from it. Experts are currently trying to recover whatever information they can from the damaged unit, but it’s a race against time and condition.

The crash has sent shockwaves through India’s aviation industry, as the Dreamliner is considered one of the safest and most technologically advanced aircraft in the sky. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), along with Boeing and other aviation safety agencies, is taking part in the multi-agency probe.

As the investigation continues, families of those on board and the general public await answers. For now, it seems the tail may tell the story that the rest of the aircraft cannot.