Following the Air India Flight 171 crash, the Indian pilots' union denounces unfounded claims regarding pilot misconduct, insisting that the crew acted within their training. They urge respectful patience during the ongoing investigation, emphasizing the need for factual data over speculation.
Indian Pilots' Association Defends Air India Crash Crew Amid Speculation

Indian Pilots' Association Defends Air India Crash Crew Amid Speculation
The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association calls for restraint in media narratives blaming the Air India Flight 171 crew for the tragic crash that claimed 260 lives.
In the wake of the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash that occurred in June, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) has come forward to defend the actions of the flight crew. The incident, which led to the loss of 260 lives, has ignited discussions in the media regarding the crew's responsibility, prompting the association to clarify the situation.
The ICPA stated that the pilots, who were responsible for operating the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, acted in accordance with their training under extremely challenging conditions. They vehemently rejected suggestions of pilot suicide as baseless and a violation of ethical reporting standards. "To casually suggest pilot suicide without verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession," the statement read.
The preliminary report on the crash indicated that shortly after takeoff, the aircraft's fuel-control switches were inadvertently moved to the "cut-off" position, which halted fuel supply to the engines. The report detailed a conversation between the pilots captured on the cockpit voice recorder, where one queried about the switch being cut off, only to receive an unclarified response from the other pilot. The investigation is still ongoing, with aviation experts noting that the switches are designed to prevent accidental activation, requiring a specific unlocking procedure.
In light of the preliminary findings, speculation regarding the pilots' culpability has proliferated across various media platforms. The ICPA has voiced its concerns regarding this climate of speculation, labeling it as deeply hurtful not only to the pilots but also to the families of the victims. They emphasized that such conjectures are both irresponsible and insensitive, calling for a halt until the official investigation presents its final findings.
Simultaneously, the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India) has echoed these sentiments. They have raised alarms about the investigation's transparency and questioned whether the recommended safety inspections related to previous advisories from the US Federal Aviation Administration regarding similar fuel control issues were undertaken.
Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu also urged caution in interpreting the preliminary report, asking the public not to leap to conclusions before the final investigation is complete. He lauded Indian pilots and crew, asserting their vital role in the nation’s civil aviation sector.
Air India Flight 171 had departed from Ahmedabad destined for Gatwick Airport in London. The final report is expected to be released in about a year as investigations continue to unravel the circumstances surrounding the tragic crash.