Amid growing speculation over the fatal crash of Air India’s AI-171 flight last month, pilot unions have strongly condemned what they termed as “reckless” narratives pointing toward pilot suicide and unfounded blame, urging authorities to conduct a fair, fact-based investigation.
The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA), representing narrow-body pilots of Tata Group-owned Air India, on Sunday said the “crew of the AI-171 flight that crashed last month acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions,” and asserted that the pilots “deserve support, not vilification based on conjecture.”
ICPA issued the statement a day after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report on the June 12 crash of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, which killed all 260 people on board.
According to the 15-page AAIB report, the fuel supply to both engines was cut off within a second of each other, causing the aircraft to lose thrust and crash shortly after takeoff. The cockpit voice recorder captured a moment of confusion, with “one of the pilots… asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so.”
While the cause remains under investigation, some media reports have suggested the possibility of intentional action. In response, the ICPA said it was “deeply disturbed by speculative narratives… particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide.”
“There is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage,” the statement said, calling it “deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved.”
The association noted that pilots undergo extensive psychological and professional screening, recurrent training, and operate under “the highest standards of safety, responsibility, and mental fitness.”
“Until the official investigation is concluded and the final report is published, any speculation, especially of such a grave nature, is unacceptable and must be condemned,” ICPA said.
Echoing similar concerns, the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) on Saturday said “the tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias towards pilot error,” and demanded that its representatives be included as observers in the investigation process to ensure transparency and accountability.
“We feel that the investigation is being driven in a direction presuming the guilt of pilots and we strongly object to this line of thought,” ALPA India said in a letter.
The association also flagged secrecy in the investigation process and raised technical concerns regarding a serviceability bulletin concerning the fuel control switch gates, asking whether “the recommendations outlined in the bulletin were implemented prior to the flight.”
ALPA India, which is affiliated with the International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA), stated that “suitably qualified personnel are not taken on board for these crucial investigations.”
Meanwhile, the AI-171 aircraft remains grounded at Ahmedabad Airport as investigation teams continue collecting evidence and technical data.
The AAIB, in its report, emphasized that “the investigation is continuing and the investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from stakeholders.”
As the probe continues, pilot bodies have reiterated their call to resist rushing to conclusions, urging stakeholders, media, and the public to “reject conjecture and uphold the integrity of the investigative process.”
(With inputs from PTI)