Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Saturday urged the public and media not to draw premature conclusions from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report on the fatal Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad, emphasizing that the findings are still under review.
Addressing reporters, Naidu said the AAIB report into the June 12 crash of flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, is an early-stage assessment, and the final report is awaited. “It will be very premature to comment on the report. The preliminary has come in, but we have to wait for something concrete to come in,” he noted.
“I believe we have the most wonderful workforce of pilots and crew in the whole world. They are the backbone of civil aviation. We also care deeply about their welfare. So let us not jump into any conclusions at this stage,” the minister added.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol echoed similar views, telling IANS that the current findings are not definitive. “We cannot say anything definite at this point,” he said, reiterating that the AAIB’s investigation is still ongoing.
Speaking about the progress of aviation safety infrastructure in India, Mohol highlighted the improvements in technical capabilities. “Earlier, if any helicopter accident occurred in the country, we had to send the black box abroad for analysis. Now, we have the facility in our own country. The AAIB has done commendable work,” he stated.
According to the AAIB’s preliminary findings, the crash occurred after both engines of flight AI 171 shut down mid-air due to both fuel control switches being turned off in quick succession. The cockpit voice recorder captured one of the pilots asking the other why he had cut the fuel, to which the second pilot responded that he had not.
The investigation continues, and officials stressed that conclusions will only be drawn after the comprehensive report is released.
