Boeing Whistleblower Cites 787 Flaws, Not Pilots, in Deadly Air India Crash

December 20, 2025 at 02:34 AM•2 min read

Boeing whistleblower Ed Pierson claims the 787 Dreamliner is an "electrical monster," shifting blame away from pilots in the fatal Air India crash.

Key Points

1Boeing whistleblower Ed Pierson dismissed pilot error theories in the Air India 787 crash, labeling the Dreamliner an "electrical monster" due to systemic flaws.
2Pierson alleged that intense pressure on Boeing factory workers resulted in widespread quality control failures across flight control, electrical, and hydraulic systems.
3The Indian AAIB preliminary report was criticized for omitting crucial data, including full cockpit voice recordings, sensor information, and ACARS/AHM system data.
4Pierson criticized US regulators, stating the FAA is "out of touch" and the NTSB has deteriorated, failing to act on evidence of electrical failures in prior 737 MAX accidents.

Former Boeing senior manager and whistleblower Ed Pierson has strongly rejected the growing narrative of pilot error in the deadly Air India 787-8 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed over 260 people. Pierson asserts that investigators are overlooking deep-rooted manufacturing and systemic failures within the aircraft itself, which he controversially labeled an “electrical monster.” The June 12 crash occurred minutes after takeoff, resulting in a fireball that destroyed the aircraft and impacted structures on the ground.

Pierson detailed long-standing quality control concerns within Boeing’s manufacturing facilities, noting that employees were under “inordinate pressure” to complete work quickly. This high-stress environment, he claims, led to repeated human errors and mistakes across critical systems, including flight controls, electrical systems, hydraulics, and pressurization. He highlighted that these issues were not isolated, extending back to the 787’s development phase, where early models required extensive rework. Pierson insists that a thorough examination of potential system faults must precede any attribution of blame to the deceased flight crew, strongly criticizing media reports that hinted at pilot error.

Furthermore, Pierson slammed the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report as “horrible,” alleging that it omitted crucial data, including full cockpit voice recordings, sensor information, and data from the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) and Aircraft Health Management (AHM) systems. He also criticized US regulatory bodies, calling the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “out of touch” with factory floor realities and alleging a “horrible deterioration” of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Pierson accused the NTSB of focusing on optics and failing to share evidence of electrical failures related to previous Boeing 737 MAX crashes with accident investigators, suggesting the entire accident investigation process is outdated for modern aircraft sophistication.