Air India plane crash | Bias towards pilot error in AAIB report; claims pilots' body, insist on fair, fact-based inquiry

The report said that in the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he cut off the fuel, to which the other replied that he did not.

Mumbai: Rejecting the preliminary report of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary report into the Air India Dreamliner crash, the Airline Pilots Association of India (ALPA-I) alleged that the tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error.

“ALPA-I renews its request to be included at the very least, as observers— in the investigation process to ensure transparency and accountability,” ALPA-I President Captain Sam Thomas said.

“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 Captain Thomas.

He pointed out that the preliminary AAIB report has been shared with the media without any responsible official signature or attribution.

"Investigations continue to be shrouded in secrecy, undermining credibility and public trust. Qualified, experienced personnel, especially line pilots are still not being included in the investigation team,” he said.

The ALPA-I further raised alarm over a specific news report in The Wall Street Journal referring to the “inadvertent movement of the fuel control switches” - and questioned how such sensitive information was leaked to international media.

“A 10 July article in The Wall Street Journal refers to the inadvertent movement of the fuel control switches,” ALPA-India noted. “ALPA-India questions how such sensitive investigative details were leaked to international media,” the ALPA-I statement reads.

“The report refers to a serviceability bulletin concerning the fuel control switch gates, indicating a possible equipment malfunction. While the bulletin is acknowledged, ALPA-India demands clarity on whether the recommendations outlined in the bulletin were implemented prior to the flight,” according to Captain Thomas.