Indian Pilots' Association Defends Air India Crew Amid Speculation of Crash Causes

In response to media speculation about the crash of Air India Flight 171, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association has defended the pilots, emphasizing their adherence to training under difficult conditions. They demand an end to conjectures around pilot suicide until an official investigation is concluded.

The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) has stepped forward to protect the dignity of the crew involved in the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash that resulted in 260 fatalities in June. In a recent statement, the ICPA criticized media narratives suggesting pilot suicide, asserting that such claims lack verified evidence and misrepresent the conduct of the aviation professionals who were operating the ill-fated flight.

The ICPA emphasized that the preliminary investigation report, released Saturday, does not attribute blame to the pilots, but instead reveals a critical issue with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s fuel-control switches moving to the "cut-off" position just moments post takeoff. The report includes cockpit voice recordings, where one pilot inquires about the action while both deny knowledge of the switch's movement.

Aviation experts have stated that the fuel-control switches are engineered to prevent unintentional activation, requiring a specific action to unlock them. Despite this, officials have yet to clarify how the switches were disengaged, leading to rampant speculation. The ICPA expressed deep concern about the unfounded narratives circulating in public discourse and called for heightened sensitivity towards the families affected by the disaster.

Moreover, another pilots' association, the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India), voiced its dissatisfaction with the investigation’s opacity and urged that qualified individuals be allowed to participate in the process to enhance transparency. They also highlighted previous advisories from the US Federal Aviation Administration regarding potential discrepancies with similar equipment on other Boeing models.

Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu weighed in, cautioning the public against premature conclusions and highlighting the remarkable capabilities of India's aviation workforce. The ill-fated flight, which took off from Ahmedabad, was en route to Gatwick, London, carrying 242 individuals. The tragedy struck just seconds after departure, leaving only one survivor among the passengers.

As the investigation continues, both pilots' associations emphasized the importance of waiting for diligence and results from official inquiries before assigning blame or making judgments that could affect the lives and reputations of the crew involved.