The Air India Flight 171 crash has been the subject of investigation, with Richard Godfrey proposing a hypothesis that water ingress into an Electronic Equipment (EE) bay could have caused the tragedy. However, this theory has been disputed due to several flaws. One major issue is that the FAA Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-09-12, which addresses water ingress in EE bays, does not apply to the aircraft in question, VT-ANB, as it was delivered to Air India in 2014, before the directive was issued. The directive specifically applies to 47 U.S-registered airplanes and is an addendum to a previous directive, AD 2016-14-04.

Furthermore, Boeing had already addressed the water ingress problem in the 787 series, including VT-ANB, by preventing potable water leaks, creating a barrier to leaks, and upgrading equipment protection against water ingress within EE bays. Even if water did enter an EE bay, the duplicated electronics on the left and right sides of the aircraft would have provided redundancy, making it unlikely that both systems would be affected in the same way.

Additionally, a serious fault causing smoke or dust to issue from the aircraft would not have self-rectified to allow the relighting of the engines. The investigation also cites a 2008 incident involving a Boeing 747-438, where water ingress caused a series of faults, but this incident led to design changes incorporated in the 787 series. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report on the 2008 incident recommended design changes, including protecting areas with vulnerable equipment, distributing redundant systems, and containing potential liquid sources.

In conclusion, while Richard Godfrey’s hypothesis is plausible, it is unlikely to be the cause of the Air India Flight 171 crash due to the lack of relevance of FAA AD 2025-09-12, the measures taken by Boeing to address water ingress, and the redundancy of the electronics systems. A more thorough investigation is needed to determine the root cause of the crash. The ATSB report highlights the importance of considering mitigation strategies, including protecting vulnerable equipment and distributing redundant systems, to reduce the risk of water ingress causing faults.

Air India Express has reversed its earlier decision to reduce flights from Kerala to the UAE, following backlash from the community and politicians. The low-cost airline had initially cancelled several services from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as from other airports in Kerala, including Kochi, Kozhikode, and Kannur, as part of its winter schedule. However, after facing criticism, the airline has agreed to reinstate flights from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai starting from October 28 and to Abu Dhabi from December 3.

The news was confirmed by Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who tweeted that Air India Express had promised to reinstate the flights during a meeting with him. UAE-based travel agents also received notifications about the continued operations of Kerala flights, citing pressure from the community and politicians as the reason for the airline’s change of heart. According to Sudheesh TP, general manager of Deira Travel and Tourist Agency, the airline had realigned its network based on demand, but reinstated the flights due to the backlash.

The decision is expected to bring relief to Malayali expats in the UAE, who were facing difficulties due to the reduced flight schedule, particularly with the upcoming holiday season of Diwali and Christmas. The reinstatement of flights will provide more options for travelers and help to ease the congestion at airports during the peak travel period. The move is seen as a victory for the community, which had come together to express their concerns and lobby for the reinstatement of the flights.

The reversal of the decision is also a testament to the power of community pressure and political intervention in shaping the decisions of airlines. The incident highlights the importance of listening to customer feedback and being responsive to the needs of the community. With the reinstatement of flights, Air India Express is likely to regain the trust of its customers and maintain its position as a major player in the Kerala-UAE route. Overall, the decision is a positive development for travelers and the airline, and is expected to have a positive impact on the travel industry in the region.