Air India Crash: Investigator Rejects ‘Irresponsible’ International Reports, ‘Not The Time To Create Public Anxiety’
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has urged all stakeholders to await the release of its final report into the Air India Flight 171 crash, emphasising that its current findings are preliminary and should not be used to draw conclusions. The agency underlined that its investigations are conducted as per the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, in line with India’s obligations under ICAO Annex 13.
Highlighting its track record, AAIB noted that since its formation in 2012, it has successfully investigated 92 accidents and 111 serious incidents. The ongoing probe into the crash of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft, VT-ANB, is one of the most serious investigations in recent Indian aviation history and is being conducted with rigour and in full adherence to international protocols.
“It needs to be appreciated that this is not the time to create public anxiety or angst towards safety of Indian Aviation Industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts,” the AAIB said in a statement.
‘Irresponsible Reporting Harms Process’: AAIB After Wall Street Journal Alleges Pilot Error
In a strong message to media outlets, especially some international ones, the AAIB expressed concern over the spread of unverified and selective reporting. It said such speculation risks harming the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
The bureau also appealed for empathy and sensitivity towards the bereaved families of the passengers, crew members, and others who lost their lives in the crash. “We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process,” the statement added.
The AAIB reiterated that the purpose of the preliminary report is only to share information on “what happened” and not to establish causation at this stage. The final report will contain definitive findings, including root causes and recommendations.
The Wall Street Journal Reports Alleges Pilot Error
This statement comes as The Wall Street Journal claimed that the first officer flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner asked the more-experienced captain why he flipped the fuel switch to the "cutoff" position seconds after takeoff. The first officer then expressed panic while the captain remained calm, the Wall Street Journal's report added.
Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and First Officer Clive Kunder were the two pilots who were flying the London-Gatwick-bound Air India flight from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. Both crew members were among the 241 persons onboard killed in the crash, while the remaining 19 were on the ground. Only one passenger, a British national, survived the crash.
The WSJ report, citing sources familiar with the probe, references a preliminary report from AAIB, which indicates that both fuel cutoff switches were moved within a one-second window, mere moments after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner lifted off the runway.
The report, however, did not say if there was any proof that Sabharwal did move the switches, beyond the verbal exchange it cited.
ALPA India Defends Crew, Demands Fact-Based Probe
Meanwhile, the Air Line Pilots’ Association – India (ALPA India), a body representing pilots, released a statement defending the actions of the crew aboard the ill-fated AI 171 flight. The association asserted that the pilots acted with utmost professionalism in the face of disaster.
“Pilots are trained professionals who carry the responsibility of hundreds of lives with dedication and dignity. The crew of AI 171 made every possible effort — till their very last breath — to protect the passengers on board and minimise harm on the ground. They deserve respect, not unfounded character judgments,” ALPA India stated.
The crash, which occurred on June 12 as the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick flight took off, killed 260 people when the aircraft collided with a building shortly after departure. The AAIB released its preliminary findings on July 12. These mentioned that the fuel switches were cut off within a second of each other after take-off, leading to confusion in the cockpit.
Amid speculation about a pilot error, ALPA India reiterated its call for a “fact-based and respectful discourse”. The association is a member of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA).
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