Indian pilots’ union slams Air India crash report, accuses AAIB of bias toward pilot error

The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) has raised serious objections to the preliminary investigation report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on July 12, concerning the crash of Air India Flight 171.

The flight, operated by a Boeing 787‑8, crashed minutes after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 260 people.

ALPA India’s president, Captain Sam Thomas, issued a statement highlighting that the tone and direction of the report indicate a presumption of pilot error, which the association “categorically rejects.”

The body emphasized that the investigation is being conducted without sufficient transparency, noting that preliminary findings were reportedly leaked to foreign media before official release, and that the report contained no signature or attribution to any responsible investigator.

The AAIB report states that both engine fuel cutoff switches were moved to “CUTOFF” shortly after takeoff, causing immediate loss of thrust.

Cockpit voice recordings captured confusion between pilots, with one asking the other, “Why did you cut off?” and the other denying responsibility.

Experts noted the switches are mechanically guarded, making accidental activation highly unlikely.

ALPA explicitly requested that its representatives be included in the investigative process as observers to provide oversight and ensure accountability, especially since the team reportedly lacks participation from experienced line pilots and aviation professionals.

The association’s stance reflects a broader concern: that the preliminary report appears to shortcut the investigative process by emphasizing pilot responsibility before all technical or systemic factors are fully examined.