The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has expressed serious concern over how the preliminary report into the Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad has been interpreted and shared with the public. The pilots’ body has questioned the fairness of the investigation and strongly objected to what it calls “premature conclusions” which blame the pilots.
In a statement, FIP said it is disappointed that pilot representatives were not included in the investigation process. It also criticised the way the findings have been interpreted, claiming that the report “lacks comprehensive data” and appears to focus too much on “paraphrased cockpit voice recordings” to suggest pilot error.
“This approach is neither objective nor complete,” the statement said, warning against drawing early conclusions from the AAIB report without a full picture.
The group added that blaming the crew without a full, transparent, and fact-based investigation is “both premature and irresponsible.” It said such actions “undermine the professionalism of highly trained crew members and cause undue distress to their families and colleagues.”
FIP urged the media, officials, and the public to avoid spreading one-sided stories or making assumptions. “Aviation safety demands a steadfast commitment to facts, integrity, and due process,” the statement noted.
The federation also expressed solidarity with the flight crew and their families, calling for a fair and evidence-based investigation before making any final judgments about what went wrong.
Read the Pilots’ Federation statement here:
The Air India AI-171 crash, which resulted in multiple casualties, is still under detailed investigation by the concerned authorities.