Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has urged restraint in interpreting the preliminary report on the Air India flight AI171 crash that occurred in Ahmedabad on June 12, claiming the lives of 260 people. Speaking to reporters in Visakhapatnam, Naidu stated, “I don't think we should jump to any conclusions over this,” emphasizing that the findings released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are only initial observations.
He praised the AAIB's work and confirmed that the government is fully supporting the agency. “We are coordinating with AAIB for any assistance they need and are hoping that the final report comes out soon so that we can arrive at some conclusion,” he said.
Naidu also expressed confidence in India’s aviation personnel, calling them “the most wonderful workforce in terms of pilots and the crew in the whole world.”
The preliminary report revealed that both engines' fuel cutoff switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF within a second of each other during takeoff, cutting fuel supply and leading to a power loss. However, the cause behind the switch movement—whether due to human error, mechanical failure, or electronic malfunction—remains undetermined.
Meanwhile, the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) raised concerns, alleging that the investigation seems to presume pilot guilt and lacks input from qualified personnel. They requested observer status in the probe to improve transparency.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol echoed Naidu’s stance, saying it is premature to make definitive statements based on the early findings. He reaffirmed that the AAIB is functioning independently and in accordance with international norms.
The investigation continues, with the final report expected to shed more light on the tragedy.