Pilots’ Body Seeks Judicial Probe Into AI-171 Crash, Disputes Preliminary Report

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) on Friday demanded a judicial inquiry into the Air India AI-171 Boeing 787 crash that killed more than 260 people, challenging preliminary findings that suggest possible pilot involvement and calling for a fully independent technical investigation into the tragedy.

At a press conference in Mumbai, FIP President Captain C.S. Randhawa said the organisation had approached the Supreme Court seeking a transparent probe, arguing that pilots “do not fly to kill people” and that premature conclusions should be avoided until all technical possibilities are examined. The body stressed that the investigation must consider electrical, mechanical and systems-related failures before attributing blame to the flight crew.

The pilots’ federation specifically questioned the timeline outlined in the preliminary report, citing simulator tests conducted under legal supervision that, according to them, did not match the sequence described by investigators. The FIP said discrepancies related to the activation timing of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) and engine shutdown sequence required further validation through independent simulation and technical review.

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The organisation also rejected suggestions that pilots intentionally moved fuel control switches to the cut-off position. It argued that the preliminary findings only indicated the switches had “transitioned,” and urged investigators to examine the possibility of uncommanded technical or electrical failures involving aircraft control systems, including FADEC and thrust management mechanisms.

FIP further pointed to past incidents involving Boeing 787 aircraft globally, citing cases of uncommanded system behaviour and maintenance concerns. It also raised questions about maintenance records, flight data discrepancies, and alleged safety audit findings, arguing that all aircraft health monitoring data and cockpit recordings must be fully disclosed and independently analysed to establish an accurate sequence of events.

In its concluding remarks, the federation called for a judicial probe under Rule 12 of the Aircraft Rules, insisting that aviation experts, Boeing 787 specialists, and simulator engineers be included in the investigation panel. It also urged authorities to ensure transparency for victims’ families and warned against assigning blame without complete technical evidence, stating that the final truth must emerge through an independent and scientifically rigorous inquiry.

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