As fresh scrutiny surrounds Boeing after the Air India AI 171 crash, aviation expert Mary Schiavo reveals that a similar fuel cut-off malfunction plagued a Japanese Boeing 787 in 2019 — with pilots never touching the controls.

Aviation attorney and former US Department of Transportation Inspector General Mary Schiavo has cautioned against rushing to blame the pilots in the Air India crash. She pointed out that the Boeing Dreamliner has a system capable of cutting fuel to the engines on its own.

Amid heightened scrutiny following last month’s deadly Ahmedabad crash that claimed 260 lives, Air India has completed a comprehensive inspection

All of the weight reductions and aero efficiency gains for the 787 improved fuel economy by 20% compared to the 767, its predecessor. You might be wondering, if the drag reduction benefits are so worthwhile,

But the incident has drawn attention to the aircraft involved: the 787 Dreamliner, the first of a modern generation ... During that period, according to Boeing, it carried more than a billion passengers. There are currently more than 1,100 in service ...

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had been bound for London's Gatwick Airport. The aircraft had 242 people on board — only one person, a passenger, survived, Air India said. Asia

I filmed the stunning Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner demo at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow. Watching it glide through tight turns and steep climbs was incredible. This display really showed off the Dreamliner's agility and quiet power in the skies.

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner was deemed the 'safest' of planes. The whistleblowers were always less sure. Theo Leggett - International Business Correspondent. June 29, 2025 at 3:57 PM. Copied