Air India Crash: AAIB's Report Leaves More Questions Than Answers!
Pilots' body slams AAIB's preliminary findings on the tragic Air India crash, urging against speculation.
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) has raised concerns over the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report on the devastating Air India Boeing 787-8 crash on June 12, which claimed 260 lives. The report, released on Saturday, revealed that the fuel switches to the engines were cut off just one second apart immediately after takeoff, leading to cockpit confusion before the plane crashed into a building. The flight, AI 171, was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.
According to the 15-page report, cockpit voice recordings captured one pilot questioning why the fuel switch was turned off, with the other denying responsibility. While the report avoids drawing conclusions, it has sparked speculation in some circles about possible pilot error.
IFALPA, representing over 100,000 pilots across 100 countries, criticized the report for raising more questions than answers. In a statement issued on July 14, the federation called for restraint, stating, “This preliminary report, by its nature, does not provide answers, and any extrapolation is mere guesswork, unhelpful to the investigation.” The group emphasized that the report contains only factual data and progress updates, with no safety recommendations at this stage.
Also Read: Ahmedabad Crash: AAIB to Release Initial Report Soon
The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA), an IFALPA member, also expressed concerns, accusing the investigation of leaning toward a pilot-error narrative. ALPA demanded a fair, evidence-based inquiry. Similarly, Air India’s pilot unions, the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and Indian Pilots Guild (IPG), warned against premature conclusions based on the preliminary findings.
IFALPA urged all parties to allow the investigation to proceed without speculation, stressing the need for professionalism to honor the victims, including the families of the crew and passengers. “The investigation must run its full course to uncover the true contributing factors,” the statement added.
As the AAIB continues its probe, the aviation community remains on edge, awaiting a comprehensive report to shed light on the tragedy.
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