In the wake of the tragic Air India Dreamliner crash that claimed 260 lives on June 12 in Ahmedabad, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has strongly condemned what it calls “premature and speculative” media reports surrounding the incident.
Jennifer Homendy, Chair of the NTSB, emphasized that aviation crash investigations of this magnitude require time and care, cautioning against hasty assumptions based on limited preliminary data. “India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has only just released its initial findings. Jumping to conclusions now is not only irresponsible—it’s dangerous,” she stated, reaffirming the NTSB’s full support for the ongoing probe.
India’s AAIB echoed these sentiments in a formal statement, calling out international media houses for spreading selective and unverified narratives. “Some foreign reports are misrepresenting facts and drawing conclusions that are not supported by evidence,” the agency said. “This is deeply disrespectful to the families of the victims and undermines the integrity of the investigation.”
What We Know So Far: Startling Details from the Preliminary Report
According to the AAIB’s initial report, both fuel cut-off switches on Air India Flight 171 were activated seconds after takeoff, leading to a rapid loss of engine thrust. Crucially, the cockpit voice recorder revealed a moment of panic and confusion: one pilot asked the other why the fuel had been cut off—only to hear, “I didn’t do it.”
At 08:08:42 UTC, the aircraft reached a top speed of 180 knots. Immediately after, the fuel switches for both engines were inexplicably flipped from RUN to CUTOFF, one second apart. At the time, the co-pilot was handling the controls while the captain was in monitoring mode.
As fuel supply ceased, both engines’ N1 and N2 values dropped rapidly, leading to catastrophic failure just seconds after takeoff.
Pilots in the Spotlight Amid Global Scrutiny
Following the release of the report, prominent international outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, have pointed fingers at the cockpit crew—particularly the senior pilot—suggesting human error may have played a central role in the disaster.
WSJ reported that cockpit recordings indicate the captain may have inadvertently shut off fuel to both engines, a claim that has sparked significant controversy in aviation circles.
However, Air India’s CEO and Managing Director, Campbell Wilson, has urged restraint. “The AAIB report makes clear there were no mechanical or maintenance-related faults with the aircraft or engines. All mandatory servicing was up to date. We strongly advise against jumping to conclusions while the investigation is ongoing,” he stated.
The Call for Patience and Accuracy
This incident has triggered a broader debate on the ethics of aviation journalism and the risks of misinformation during active investigations. The NTSB and AAIB have both underscored the need to respect the investigative process, and above all, the dignity of the families grieving this devastating loss.
As the investigation continues to unfold, officials from both India and the United States urge media and the public alike to avoid conjecture and wait for the final report—a report that could take several more months to complete.
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