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Aviation Minister Naidu Affirms AAIB Investigation of Air India 171 Crash Is Thorough and Independent

Aviation Minister Naidu Defends Integrity of AAIB Investigation into Air India Flight 171 Crash
Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu on Tuesday reaffirmed the thoroughness and independence of the ongoing investigation into the Air India flight AI 171 crash. His remarks came in response to criticism from pilot associations and the family of one of the pilots involved in the tragedy. Minister Naidu emphasized that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting a “clean and very thorough” inquiry, strictly following established protocols and regulations.
“There is no manipulation, or dirty business happening in the investigation,” Naidu asserted. He underscored that the process is being carried out with full adherence to the rules and pledged that this commitment to transparency and rigor would be maintained throughout. The minister further described the AAIB’s approach as “thorough, transparent, and independent,” urging the public and stakeholders to withhold judgment until the final report is published. He cautioned against premature conclusions based on the preliminary findings, noting that the bureau requires additional time to complete its work.
Controversies Surrounding the Preliminary Report and Legal Actions
The AAIB’s preliminary report, issued a month after the June 12 crash of the Air India Boeing 787-8 in Ahmedabad, has been met with significant scrutiny, particularly from pilot groups. The report was widely interpreted as attributing primary responsibility for the crash—which claimed 260 lives—to pilot actions. In response, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) formally requested a judicial investigation through a court of inquiry, describing the AAIB’s probe as “untenable.” The FIP cited concerns over alleged selective leaks and actions that they believe have compromised the investigation’s impartiality and integrity.
Concerns were also voiced by Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, father of Sumeet Sabharwal, one of the pilots aboard the ill-fated flight. He criticized the preliminary report and media speculation, especially regarding his son’s mental health and theories suggesting pilot suicide. Sabharwal described the report as “deficient, diversionary and discrepant.” He also objected to an unsolicited visit by AAIB officials, who, according to him, made damaging insinuations based on selective interpretations of cockpit voice recorder data. These insinuations suggested deliberate pilot action in moving the engine fuel control switches to the CUTOFF position after takeoff.
Amid these disputes, families of four passengers who perished in the crash have initiated a lawsuit in the United States against Boeing and Honeywell, alleging negligence and defective fuel switches. The lawsuit claims that the locking mechanism for the fuel switch on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner could be inadvertently turned off, resulting in a loss of fuel supply and thrust during takeoff. However, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has stated that these switches do not appear to have caused the accident. The AAIB’s preliminary report also noted that Air India had not conducted recommended inspections on the fuel switches.
The Indian Supreme Court has also intervened, criticizing the handling of the crash’s aftermath as “irresponsible.” As the investigation proceeds, Minister Naidu reiterated the government’s commitment to a transparent process and called for patience until the AAIB’s final report is released.

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