Ahmedabad Air India crash: AI CEO Campbell Wilson says this about Boeing, GE in first reaction after AAIB report

Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson on Monday dismissed speculations that a fuel switch malfunction could have caused the tragic crash of AI171 in Ahmedabad last month. Quoting the probe report, Wilson said investigators found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines. 

 

In an internal note, accessed by PTI, Wilson said, "There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the take-off roll. The pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status." He added that all mandatory tasks had been completed.

 

Wilson urged everyone not to draw premature conclusions based on the report as the probe is not yet over. "We will continue to cooperate with the investigators to ensure they have everything they need to conduct a thorough and comprehensive enquiry," he said.

 

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report on its probe into the crash of  AI171 Ahmedabad-London flight on Saturday. The investigators found the aircraft's fuel cutoff switches for both engines turned on during take-off. Though the pilots restored fuel supply to the engines, the flight eventually crashed after it failed to recover the necessary speed for take-off.

 

Wilson added as a precaution, every Boeing 787 aircraft in Air India's fleet underwent checks after the crash and they were found "fit for service". "We continue to perform all necessary checks, as we will any new ones that authorities may suggest."

India