Aviation expert Mike Boyd pushed back against Fox News host Brian Kilmeade’s suggestions that India could be at fault for a recent Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash, firmly defending the country’s aviation safety standards during a Thursday morning broadcast of Fox & Friends.
The Air India flight crashed with 242 people on board outside the Indian city of Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. There was one sole survivor. The 787 Dreamliner had just taken off en route to London Gatwick Airport when it appeared to lose power before going down in a residential area near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 625 feet altitude.
During the Fox News segment, Kilmeade initially questioned whether the incident might have been intentional, asking Boyd about the aircraft’s trajectory from takeoff to ground impact. Boyd indicated that while he didn’t rule out intentional action, power failure was more likely the cause of the crash.
The conversation then shifted to questions of responsibility, with Kilmeade probing whether Boeing, Air India, or Indian authorities could be at fault. The host questioned the maintenance responsibilities that transfer from Boeing to individual airlines after aircraft purchase, suggesting that different countries or airlines might implement their own rules and regulations on the planes.
Boyd acknowledged that airlines do work with Boeing when ordering aircraft and that maintenance becomes the airline’s responsibility after purchase. However, he emphasized that all modifications and procedures must be approved. He noted that while India’s transportation system can be considered chaotic from a marketing perspective, safety standards have always been maintained.
Boyd firmly shut down any implications about India’s aviation competence with his direct response: “India is not sloppy.” The expert continued his defense by explaining that an airline’s imprint on an airplane occurs primarily during the ordering process, as they collaborate with Boeing on specifications.
This exchange occurred as part of Fox News coverage of recent aviation incidents that have sparked renewed concerns about flight safety. Boyd, who serves as president of Boyd Group International and works as an aviation consultant, has been a frequent collaborator with the network on aviation-related stories.
The aviation expert has previously appeared on Fox News to discuss other recent crashes, including a deadly South Korean plane crash in December 2024 where he cast doubt on bird strike theories. In that appearance, he questioned whether a bird strike alone could cause the type of catastrophic failure observed, suggesting additional factors might have been involved.
Boyd has consistently maintained that commercial aviation safety remains at historically high levels despite recent high-profile incidents. In February 2025, he told Fox News that while human errors and systemic errors occasionally occur, they are addressed quickly and that aviation safety continues to improve.
The June 12 India crash marked a significant incident for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which had maintained an exemplary safety record until this event. The aircraft was operating a scheduled international route when the apparent power failure occurred shortly after takeoff from the major Indian airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration has identified 10 primary cause factors for general aviation accidents, with inadequate preflight preparation, failure to maintain flying speed, and failure to maintain directional control ranking as the top three issues. However, these factors typically apply to smaller aircraft rather than commercial jetliners like the 787.
Boyd’s defense of India’s aviation standards comes amid broader discussions about international aviation safety oversight and the responsibilities shared between aircraft manufacturers and operating airlines. The expert emphasized that safety protocols and maintenance standards are subject to international approval processes regardless of the operating country.
The exchange highlighted ongoing debates about attribution of responsibility in aviation incidents, particularly when international carriers operate aircraft manufactured by major producers like Boeing. Industry experts note that modern commercial aviation involves complex chains of responsibility spanning manufacturers, airlines, maintenance providers, and regulatory authorities across multiple countries.
Investigation into the Air India crash continues, with authorities working to determine the exact cause of the apparent power failure that led to the aircraft’s loss of control shortly after takeoff. The incident represents a rare safety event for the 787 Dreamliner fleet, which has accumulated millions of flight hours since entering commercial service.
The Fox News segment reflected broader media coverage of recent aviation incidents, with experts frequently called upon to provide analysis and context for viewers concerned about flight safety following several high-profile crashes in recent months.
