FIP Raises Concerns Over Pilot Exclusion in Air India Crash Investigation

FIP's Official Statement

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has voiced significant concerns regarding the initial findings and public discussions related to the Air India flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad. In their official statement, FIP expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of pilot representatives from the investigation process, criticizing the interpretation and public presentation of the preliminary report.

Concerns About Preliminary Report

FIP stated, "We are dissatisfied with the exclusion of pilot representatives from the investigation. We also object to how the preliminary report has been interpreted and presented to the public." They highlighted that the report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) lacked thorough data and seemed to selectively use paraphrased cockpit voice recordings to imply pilot error, thereby questioning the professionalism and integrity of the flight crew.

Call for Objective Investigation

The federation emphasized that the report's current form is neither complete nor objective. They urged both their members and the public to avoid accepting such premature conclusions. "Assigning blame before a comprehensive, transparent, and data-driven investigation is both premature and irresponsible. Such speculative commentary undermines the professionalism of highly trained crew members and causes unnecessary distress to their families and colleagues," the statement continued.

Appeal to Stakeholders

FIP further called on all stakeholders to avoid spreading incomplete narratives or making baseless assumptions. They stated, "We strongly urge all stakeholders, including the media, commentators, and authorities, to refrain from disseminating partial narratives or making unfounded assumptions. Aviation safety requires a steadfast commitment to facts, integrity, and due process." They expressed solidarity with the crew and their families, reiterating the need for a fair, transparent, and evidence-based investigation before any conclusions are drawn.

Details from the AAIB Report

The AAIB's preliminary report, released recently, indicated that both engines of the aircraft were switched from "run" to "cutoff" in quick succession, leading to a fuel supply interruption. The report noted that a cockpit voice recording captured one pilot questioning the other about the cutoff, which was denied by the second pilot. The aircraft reached a maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots at approximately 08:08:42 UTC, after which the fuel cutoff switches for both engines transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF within a second of each other.

Crash Overview

According to the preliminary report, the engines began to lose power as the fuel supply was halted. The Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) data revealed that engine 1's fuel cut switch moved from 'cutoff' to 'run' around 08:08:52 UTC, followed by engine 2 at 08:08:56 UTC. The tragic crash of the Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 in Ahmedabad resulted in the loss of 260 lives, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 individuals on the ground.