Indian Aviation Inquiry Report Criticism: Pilots from Air India Voice Dissatisfaction Towards Investigation
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has expressed dissatisfaction with the preliminary report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the Air India plane crash on June 12, which resulted in the tragic loss of 260 lives.
Key concerns raised by the FIP include the exclusion of pilot representatives from the investigation process, the failure to sufficiently consider technical scenarios that could have triggered the accident, media speculation and misinterpretation of the AAIB findings, and the urging of the media, public, and officials to avoid premature conclusions that could damage public confidence in aviation safety.
The FIP also plans to raise these concerns with the government, demanding a reassessment of the investigation that focuses more on possible technical faults rather than blaming the pilots.
According to the preliminary report by the AAIB, the fuel cutoff switches for both engines were moved to the "cutoff" position within a one-second interval, just moments after liftoff. This sequence of events led to the engine shutdown and subsequent crash of Air India's AI 171, a Boeing 787-8 plane, into Ahmedabad's B J Medical College.
In response to these concerns, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered inspections of the locking mechanisms across Boeing 787 and 737 fleets due to the question over the fuel control switch.
The FIP has urged the public to refrain from drawing conclusions based on initial findings and has called for a thorough, transparent, and data-driven probe. The FIP, along with the Air Line Pilots' Association of India (ALPA), has demanded a fair and fact-based investigation, underscoring the possibility of a bias towards pilot error in the preliminary report.
Captain CS Randhawa, FIP’s president, has called baseless allegations attributing the crash to pilot error "unfounded" and announced intentions to pursue legal action against misleading publications.
As the investigation continues, the FIP and the aviation community await a comprehensive and unbiased report that sheds light on the true cause of the tragic accident.
- Despite the FIP's dissatisfaction with the AAIB's preliminary report on the Air India plane crash, sports news and crime-and-justice reports have still circulated speculations about the pilots' involvement in the accident.
- In light of the concerns raised by the FIP and the ALPA, sports betting odds on the cause of the Air India plane crash have seen a shift, favoring technical faults over pilot error.
- As the general news media continues to discuss the plane crash, car-accidents have seen a temporary dip in coverage, possibly due to the public's increased interest in the unfolding aviation incident.
