The preliminary report into the crash of Air India flight AI171 has raised more questions, CEO Campbell Wilson said on Monday, as he defended the fitness of pilots and aircraft saying no mechanical or maintenance issues have been flagged in the report. Wilson cautioned against jumping to conclusions as the investigation remains far from complete.
In an internal communication to staff, he said the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people, including all but one of the 242 onboard and 19 on the ground, has entered a crucial phase, with the release of the initial findings by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
“The release of the preliminary report marked the point at which we, along with the world, began receiving additional details about what took place. Unsurprisingly, it provided both greater clarity and opened additional questions,” Wilson said.
The AAIB’s 15-page report revealed that the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating as flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, lost thrust after both engine fuel switches were moved to the “cutoff” position within a second of each other, causing it to plummet shortly after takeoff and crash into a nearby building. However, the report does not yet explain how or why the fuel cutoff occurred.
Cockpit voice recordings captured an exchange between the two pilots, with one reportedly asking why the fuel was cut off, to which the other responded, denying having done it.
Despite the lack of clarity on this front, Wilson stressed that the report found no technical defects or procedural lapses in aircraft maintenance or pilot fitness. “There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the takeoff roll. The pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status,” he stated.
He also confirmed that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been carried out and that, as a precautionary measure, the airline had conducted thorough checks on its entire fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft under the supervision of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). “All were found fit for service,” he said.
As speculation and theories about the crash gain ground, Wilson urged restraint. “The preliminary report identified no cause nor made any recommendations,” he noted, reiterating the need to avoid premature judgments.
Over the past month, numerous unofficial claims and interpretations have surfaced. The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) over the weekend defended the crew, asserting that they acted in accordance with their training under extreme circumstances. Former AAIB chief Aurobindo Handa also said that drawing conclusions at this stage would be premature.
Wilson emphasised the airline’s continued cooperation with investigators and reaffirmed its priorities. “Let us not be diverted from what are our top priorities: standing by the bereaved and those injured, working together as a team, and delivering a safe and reliable air travel experience to our customers around the world,” he said.
Wilson told the Air India employees to remain focused and aligned with the company’s values of integrity, excellence, innovation, and teamwork as the investigation moves forward.