One year after Air India flight AI-101 crashed on approach to Dubai International Airport, the official investigation remains incomplete. Six critical questions continue to confound investigators and fuel speculation about systemic failures in aviation safety protocols.
The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying 327 passengers and crew, went down in clear weather conditions on 15 November 2023. The preliminary report, released three months ago, cited no definitive cause. But guarded comments from sources close to the inquiry suggest the cockpit voice recorder data reveals anomalies in crew communication during the final four minutes of flight. Specifically, the first officer’s apparent hesitation in cross-checking altitude readings has not been adequately explained.
Second, the aircraft’s automated systems were engaged throughout the descent, yet the flight data recorder shows a conflicting sequence of throttle adjustments. Investigators are trying to determine whether a software glitch or human error prompted the engines to spool down prematurely. Boeing has acknowledged a similar issue in simulator tests but insists the production model was not affected.
Third, the maintenance logs for the aircraft show a recurring hydraulic fluid leak that was documented but not resolved before departure. The airline’s engineering division has declined to comment, citing legal constraints. However, leaked internal emails suggest pressure from management to minimise ground time.
Fourth, the air traffic controller on duty that night has provided conflicting accounts of the handover procedure from approach to tower. The controller, who has since been suspended, reportedly failed to issue a standard altitude confirmation request. The investigation has yet to rule on whether this omission contributed to the tragedy.
Fifth, the emergency response on site was chaotic. The airport’s fire chief has admitted that runway foam supplies were depleted due to a budget cut implemented four months earlier. While no evidence links this directly to casualties – 112 passengers died – the delay in extinguishing fires may have affected survivability.
Sixth, the international oversight component remains troubling. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority initially involved the US National Transportation Safety Board, but later limited their access. The NTSB team was withdrawn after a diplomatic protest about information sharing. This has raised questions about the transparency of the probe.
Relatives of victims have formed a coalition calling for an independent review. They point to the six unanswered questions as evidence of a cover-up. The airline, for its part, has maintained a posture of cooperation, but its legal department has warned against what it calls ‘prejudicial speculation’.
A senior diplomat with knowledge of the case, speaking on condition of anonymity, remarked that the investigation has become ‘a test of institutional credibility for a Gulf state that prides itself on aviation standards’. The final report is expected within six months, but observers doubt all six questions will be resolved.
The crash has already prompted the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to issue new guidance on cockpit resource management. But for the families of the deceased, the absence of closure remains a source of profound unease. Until the six questions are answered, the tragedy will haunt not only the aviation industry but also the principle that no crash is beyond explanation.
