AI 171 crew acted in line with responsibility under challenging conditions: AI Pilots' grouping ICPA
Strongly rejecting insinuations in some quarters about pilot suicide, the association representing narrow-body pilots of Air India stressed that until the official investigation is concluded and the final report is published, any speculation is unacceptable and must be condemned.
It may be noted here that the Airline Pilots' Association of India also had on Saturday demanded a fair and fact-based probe into the Air India plane crash as it claimed that the tone and direction of the investigation into the Air India plane crash suggests a bias towards pilot error.
ICPA is the narrow-body fleet pilots' body at Tata Group-owned Air India. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report into the fatal Boeing 787-8 plane crash on June 12 that killed 260 people. The report has found that the fuel supply to both engines of Air India flight AI171 was cut off within a second of each other, causing confusion in the cockpit and the airplane plummeting back to the ground almost immediately after taking off.
The 15-page report says that in the cockpit voice recording, one unidentified pilot asked the other why he had cut off the fuel, which the other denied.
In its preliminary report on the crash of Air India's AI 171 flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12 that killed 260 people, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday said the fuel switches of the Boeing 787-8 aircraft were cut off soon after takeoff.
'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do some,' the report said.
ICPA on Sunday said it is deeply disturbed by speculative narratives emerging in sections of the media and public discourse-particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide.
'There is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage, and invoking such a serious allegation based on incomplete or preliminary information is not only irresponsible — it is deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved,' it said in a statement.
The association emphasised that pilots undergo extensive psychological and professional screening, recurrent training, and operate under the highest standards of safety, responsibility, and mental fitness.
Noting that ICPA trusts and respects the rigorous investigative protocols established by competent authorities, it said these inquiries are designed to uncover facts methodically and without bias.
'Until the official investigation is concluded and the final report is published, any speculation, especially of such a grave nature, is unacceptable and must be condemned.
'… the crew of Al 171 acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions. They deserve support, not vilification based on conjecture,' it added.
AAIB, in the preliminary report, said investigation is continuing and the investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from the stakeholders.
'The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias towards pilot error… ALPA India categorically rejects this presumption and insists on a fair, fact-based inquiry,' Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) had said in a statement on Saturday.
The association has also demanded that its representatives should be observers in the investigation process to ensure transparency and accountability.
ALPA India is a member of the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Association (IFALPA). 'We are once again surprised at the secrecy surrounding these investigations. We are also reiterating the fact that suitably qualified personnel are not taken on board for these crucial investigations,' ALPA India alleged in the letter.
'We feel that the investigation is being driven in a direction presuming the guilt of pilots and we strongly object to this line of thought,' it alleged.
Noting that the report refers to a serviceability bulletin concerning the fuel control switch gates, which indicates a potential equipment malfunction, the association said, 'while the bulletin exists, ALPA India demands clarity on whether the recommendations outlined in the bulletin were implemented prior to the flight.' Air India has said it will take on board its pilot community by holding dedicated sessions in the coming days to review the preliminary investigation report.
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Air India crash: Why pilot error is an unfounded theory
On Saturday (July 12), the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary findings into the Air India crash in Ahmedabad in June. Shortly after its release, some media outlets and experts insinuated that pilot error was the reason for the tragedy. Here's why experts are slamming this theory read more A tail of the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building after the incident in Ahmedabad, India. File image/Reuters On June 12, Air India flight AI 171 took off from Ahmedabad only to crash within minutes, killing 260 people, making it one of the worst aviation tragedies in India's recent history. Almost a month later, on July 12, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the tragedy, hinting that pilot action caused the crash. Many veterans and experts of the aviation industry are raising doubts over the AAIB report as well as the reporting of it — some Indian netizens are furious with Western media's skewed reportage of the crash and placing blame solely on the shoulders of the pilots. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, the Pilots' Association of India has raised strong objections over the direction of the investigation, alleging that it appears to be 'presuming the guilt of pilots'. So, what's going on? And why it may be incorrect to blame the pilots for the Air India crash? What does the AAIB report reveal on AI crash? The 15-page preliminary probe report released on Saturday (July 12) has thrown light on what occurred before Air India's Dreamliner came crashing down. The AAIB finding reveals that seconds after take-off, both of the 787 Dreamliner's fuel-control switches moved to the 'cutoff' position. What this means is that the engines were starved of fuel, causing them to lose power. The report reads: 'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other: why did he cut off? The other pilot responded that he did not do so.' It did not identify who said what. What is very important to note here is that the report does not detail the conversation between the pilots prior to and after this brief exchange. The report does not include the full transcript of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recording, causing doubts to creep up on what exactly happened. Additionally, the report also reveals that the ram air turbine (RAT) was deployed during the initial climb immediately after take-off. The small wind turbine acts as a backup power source during emergencies, and is normally only deployed during complete power failure. At 8.07 am (UTC), the aircraft was cleared for take-off. About 8.09 am, one of the pilots transmitted: ' Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.' The air traffic control officer did not get any response. The report also found: 'Both thrust levers were found near the aft (idle) position. 'However, the EAFR [enhanced airborne flight recorder] data revealed that the thrust levers remained forward (take-off thrust) until the impact.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wreckage of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner lies at the site where the Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad, India. File image/Reuters How has the report caused furore? Shortly after the report's findings were made public, some media outlets indicated that the fatal Air India crash was the fault of the pilots — 56-year-old Sumeet Sabharwal and 32-year-old Clive Kunder. The _BBC_ in its report titled the report, 'Pilot cut off fuel to engine — no fault with plane', indicating the crash was owing to pilot error. Some quarters even implied that the crash was the result of the pilot's desire to die by suicide. However, the AAIB's findings and its reportage has been slammed by many within the aviation industry as well as others. On Saturday, the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA-I) criticised the report for its 'tone and direction' that suggested 'bias towards pilot error'. 'The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error. ALPA-I categorically rejects this presumption and insists on a fair, fact-based inquiry,' said ALPA-I President Sam Thomas. The pilots' body also reiterated its request to be included 'at the very least, as observers' in the air crash investigation. This was followed up by the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), which condemned the insinuation that pilot suicide might be the cause of the tragic crash of the Air India Boeing 787-8 aircraft. A police officer stands in front of the wreckage of an Air India aircraft, bound for London's Gatwick Airport, which crashed and landed on a hostel building minutes after take-off from an airport in Ahmedabad. File image/Reuters In a statement, the ICPA said: 'We call upon media organisations and public commentators to act with restraint, empathy, and respect for due process. The crew of AI 171 acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions. They deserve support — not vilification based on conjecture.' It further expressed its 'unwavering support' for the pilots of flight AI 171. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'In the aftermath of this incident, we are deeply disturbed by speculative narratives emerging in sections of the media and public discourse — particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide. Let us be unequivocally clear: there is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage, and invoking such a serious allegation based on incomplete or preliminary information is not only irresponsible — it is deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved,' the ICPA added in its statement. Other individuals also slammed the findings of the report — veteran journalist Barkha Dutt called the BBC's reporting 'scurrilous', pointing out that the AAIB report clearly mentions an Federal Aviation Administration advisory about a potential fuel switch malfunction. 'Why would you not consider a fuel switch malfunction given the documented FAA advisory?' she questioned on X. How does the AAIB report leave many questions unanswered? Following the findings of the report being released, resulting in a blame game, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol has said that the report is not yet final, and the information is 'still under the purview of investigation'. And it seems that the report has left many questions that still demand an answer. First and foremost, the report says the engine fuel control switches that allow and cut fuel flow to the plane's engines transitioned from run to cutoff. However, it doesn't say how this happened. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ex-IAF director Sanjeev Kapoor has called the report incomplete. On the issue of the fuel switches, he told India Today, 'It is absolutely bizarre to suggest that any sane pilot would deliberately operate the fuel cut-off switches right after takeoff. Why would a pilot, having just lifted off manually, turn the aircraft 170 degrees just to shut down the engines? It defies all logic.' Others have also pointed out that incidents of fuel switches tripping to the cutoff position have occurred in the past. Aviation expert Mark D Martin stated that there was an FAA circular on the same. A man passes by damaged buildings, where an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane crashed during takeoff from a nearby airport, in Ahmedabad. Reuters Moreover, in 2018, Boeing — the makers of the plane — had issued a similar warning about the fuel switches. President of the Federation of Indian Pilots, Charanvir Singh Randhawa told news agency ANI, 'Back in December 2018, Boeing issued an advisory about similar fuel control switch malfunctions in some 737 aircraft. If that information was available, then all the aircraft should have been checked. This circular should have been a directive rather than just an advisory.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The report also doesn't reveal the full cockpit camera footage. Experts have said that only the full audio and transcript of the cockpit voice recorder would paint the right picture of events that unfolded inside the cockpit between the two pilots in the minutes leading up to the tragedy. There's also lack of clarity of who was taking the decisions inside the ill-fated plane. Charanvir Singh Randhawa told news agency ANI, 'The aircraft was actually being flown by the co-pilot, who was the one controlling the plane, while the captain, who was the pilot-in-command, was monitoring the flight. So, it's still unclear who made the key decisions. The preliminary report doesn't make that clear, even though it would have been easy to identify from the Cockpit Voice Recorder who was speaking.' What happens next? While families and the public await the full report on the Air India crash, the Hindustan Times reports that ALPA-I is mulling whether to take legal action against the authorities for not having a pilot representative as part of the investigating committee. 'It is unfair for the government to not have a trained B787 pilot or a senior commander be part of the investigation. The actual fault leading to the crash should be known; however, there is a fear that the investigation is being carried out in one direction, which is to prove the pilots at fault,' one of its officials requesting anonymity said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
AI 171: A plane crash in the age of GenAI, fake social media posts; experts stresses need for regular flow of official information
The captain's seat dislocated and slid backwards during take-off, triggering the crash of Air India flights AI 171; or the crash was triggered by inclement weather—these were two among many messages that were circulating in social media groups, including those of pilots—for weeks before the preliminary investigation report was released early Saturday. The messages were structured as preliminary investigation reports about the June 12 Ahmedabad crash and were most likely created using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) platforms to spread misinformation and peddle conspiracy theories. Then there were GenAI-created videos of the crash. They spread fast even within the aviation industry, although most had some basic giveaways like use of emojis and incorrect basic information about the accident. For instance, in one such fake report, the sole survivor's seat number was wrong and the input of torrential rain during pushback was the complete opposite of the hot, bright, and sunny day in Ahmedabad on June 12. In the GenAI videos, the aircraft livery did not match that of Air India. Nevertheless, they fuelled rumour mills to such an extent that the Press Information Bureau had to publicly debunk some of these reports. And the menace was not just limited to India. With the world watching the crash investigation unfold, given that this was the first fatal accident involving Boeing's latest-generation wide-body aircraft—the 787 Dreamliner—even these fake reports and videos went global. Meanwhile, official information on the investigation's progress has been scarce, leading to wild speculation on social media as well as news media in certain cases. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has so far held just one briefing on the accident—India's worst aviation disaster in four decades—where no questions were taken. Prior to the release of the official preliminary report, there were just a few press releases on the status of the probe, with no real information on the findings. Add to that government-friendly media outfits posting wrongly about the investigation report being submitted, only to be denied hours later in an off-record comment. All this, industry insiders and watchers believe, is helping fuel the rumour mills and only exacerbating the spread of misinformation and fake news in the age of social media and GenAI. The preliminary report was also uploaded in the middle of the night on the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) website, with no media briefing on either Saturday or Sunday to address key questions about the probe so far. And while the AAIB and the government have kept the investigation airtight, clamping down official information flow, a few publications in the US managed to report the most significant aspect of the report—the focus on engine fuel control switches, leading to speculation in India's aviation circles that the American participants in the investigation were selectively leaking information back home. It is worth noting here that the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and American companies—plane maker Boeing and engine manufacturer GE—are assisting the AAIB-led probe into the crash. Moreover, there are quite a few questions that remain unanswered in the report. For instance, it mentions just one paraphrased exchange between the pilots on whether one of them cut fuel supply to the engines. It is certain that the investigators now have the complete cockpit voice recording from the black boxes, but they chose just one brief exchange without even identifying which pilot said what; nothing before or after. Some experts have even said that the preliminary report has raised more questions than it answers. To be sure, the report is more detailed than what many expected it to be. But it left a number of key questions unanswered, which again seems to be fueling various theories about the crash causes—from pilot action and even suicide to software or systems flaw—and has left experts scratching their heads. But there is no official word of clarification or elaboration. The public at large, in India and overseas, is desperately looking for information about the crash, and in the age of social media and viral content, they are bound to be impatient as well. Although air crash investigations are long-drawn, complex, and painstaking exercises spread over months and at times even years, if official and legitimate information isn't shared in a timely manner and at regular intervals, the public at large can easily fall prey to unfounded theories and GenAI-created fake information. Few are well-versed with the aviation industry to tell fake from genuine information, and debunk wildly speculative hypotheses. Aviation experts and commentators, in the country as well as overseas, have been critical of the way India has handled information flow so far in the investigation, particularly given the perils of fake news content in the age of social media. What helps in such an environment is regular communication through frequent public briefings, which is a norm in the West when major aviation accidents occur. Even reiterations of the protocols and status of the investigation into a major air crash and regular debunking of misinformation can go a long way. 'I have, throughout these last couple of weeks after the accident happened, pointed out that there is…an information vacuum out there, and it's been filled by nefarious actors, by either people who are wildly speculating without any kind of basis about the causes but maybe with good intentions, but also by these AI (artificial intelligence) generated interim reports…So, I am highly critical about the way that that the information flow has happened here,' said Petter Hörnfeldt, an airline pilot who runs well-regarded aviation education and information channels on YouTube, in a recent video about the AI 171 crash. 'These fake reports that are coming out and are being shared by professionals by the way, they're only going to get better and more and more believable as time goes by. There needs to be a shift now, I think, from the authorities point of view. And I know that this is shared by others in the industry as well. There needs to be a shift to more and quicker information sharing…Saying that you don't know something, it's also information. Going out and having a daily brief, basically, and saying that 'So far, we've found the black boxes, we're looking into them, we've sent them off to be read',' Hörnfeldt added. But official information has been hard to come by, with the AAIB and India's civil aviation establishment being extremely tight-lipped. Pilots and experts are now calling for regular media briefings by the AAIB to provide official updates on the investigation and debunk unfounded speculation. Unless the country's aviation top brass pays heed, the cycle may continue. Will they? Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More Anil Sasi is National Business Editor with the Indian Express and writes on business and finance issues. He has worked with The Hindu Business Line and Business Standard and is an alumnus of Delhi University. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
More pilots' bodies object to probe report on AI crash
In the wake of the release of the preliminary report into the Air India crash, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) on Sunday raised concern over imputations being made over the role of the AI171 pilots. Wreckage of AI Flight 171 after the crash on June 12. (PTI) The ICPA is a body originally formed by pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines that has, in the interest of fliers, raised several issues related to safety. In an official statement, the ICPA called accusations against the AI171 pilots and flight crew a 'gross violation' and a 'disservice to the profession'. 'In the aftermath of this incident, we are deeply disturbed by speculative narratives emerging in sections of the media and public discourse -- particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide,' said ICPA. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its 15-page preliminary report on the Air India crash on Saturday, July 12. It laid out the sequence of events for the ill-fated flight. As per the report, the fuel to both engines was cut off shortly after take-off. Based on the AAIB report, the fuel control switches were found in the 'cutoff' position. 'At about 08:08:42 UTC (1:38pm, 42 seconds) and immediately thereafter, the engine 1 and engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec,' the report stated. 'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so,' it added. 'Let us be unequivocally clear: there is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage, and invoking such a serious allegation based on incomplete or preliminary information is not only irresponsible—it is deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved,' the ICPA said. Any mention of pilot error or suicide 'in the absence of verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession'. Air India flight 171 was headed for London's Gatwick Airport on June 12, when it crashed minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The flight, which had 242 passengers on board (including cabin crew), crashed into BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad. The accident, which is among the deadliest aviation accidents recorded, killed a total of 260 people --- 241 on board and 19 on the ground at the crash site. The Airline Pilots' Association (ALPA), a member of the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Association (IFALPA), in a statement on Saturday, said, 'The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias towards pilot error... ALPA India categorically rejects this presumption and insists on a fair, fact-based inquiry.' While the report mentioned the fuel control switches being found in a mode opposite to what they should have been, it did not share the transcript of the CVR, which not only upset the pilot bodies but also industry experts. It is learnt that the ALPA India is also considering taking legal action against the authorities for not having a pilot representative as part of the investigating committee. 'It is unfair for the government to not have a trained B787 pilot or a senior commander be part of the investigation. The actual fault leading to the crash should be known; however, there is a fear that the investigation is being carried out in one direction, which is to prove the pilots at fault,' one of its officials requesting anonymity said. Officials in the know of the development said that ALPA India is to meet the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday for an issue not related to the crash. 'ALPA members are meeting the DGCA officials on Monday for some pilot-related issues, but they aim to also discuss the importance of a pilot representative during the investigation of the crash,' the person concluded.
