Pilot groups deny allegations of human error in Air India crash, asserting there is no evidence to support such claims.
Two prominent organizations representing commercial pilots have publicly refuted allegations suggesting that human error played a critical role in the tragic crash of an Air India flight on June 12, which resulted in the loss of 260 lives. This response follows the release of preliminary findings indicating that the aircraft’s engine fuel switches were turned off shortly before the tragic incident.
On Sunday, both the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) and the Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) expressed their discontent with the early investigative report released by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The report indicated that the fuel control switches on Flight AI171, which was en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, were shifted from the “run” to the “cutoff” position just before the aircraft suffered a catastrophic loss of altitude and thrust shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
A number of independent aviation experts raised questions, speculating that it might have been pilot action—either intentional or unintentional—that led to the incident. However, the pilot associations firmly rejected these insinuations, calling them speculative and “reckless.” The ICPA stated that claims of pilot suicide lack substantiated evidence and disrespect both the victims and their families, emphasizing the importance of responsible reporting in the aviation industry.
ALPA India, representing approximately 800 union members, criticized the investigative body for what it described as lack of transparency and appropriate expertise in the ongoing investigation. They voiced concern that the inquiry appears to be biased against pilots and requested that qualified observers be included in the process to ensure an exhaustive and impartial examination of the events leading to the crash.
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has urged caution against jumping to conclusions, noting that the preliminary report does not attribute definitive causes nor provide recommendations. Wilson reaffirmed that the investigation remains ongoing and that it is premature to draw any strong conclusions about the incident’s underlying causes.
The fatal crash claimed the lives of nearly all aboard—242 passengers—and 19 individuals on the ground, spotlighting the urgent need for thorough and objective investigations into aviation safety. As the inquiry progresses, stakeholders within the aviation sector remain committed to uncovering the truth surrounding this devastating event, striving to enhance the safety and reliability of air travel for the future.
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