New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has strongly condemned international media for what it described as “selective, unverified, and irresponsible” reporting on the June 12 crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad, which claimed 274 lives.
The criticism comes after reports claimed that cockpit voice recordings indicated the flight’s senior pilot had moved the fuel supply toggles from the ‘RUNOFF’ to ‘CUT’ position shortly after takeoff, allegedly triggering a mid-air loss of thrust and the fatal crash.
In a sharply worded statement, the AAIB urged restraint and warned against drawing conclusions while the investigation remains ongoing. “Such actions are irresponsible. We urge the media and public to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process,” the agency said.
Clarifying the purpose of its preliminary report, the AAIB emphasized that it is meant only to explain what happened, not why it happened. The bureau appealed for patience until the final report is released. “The investigation is not complete. The final report will be issued once the process is fully concluded,” the statement noted.
The agency also called for compassion in public discourse, stressing the need to respect the grief of families who lost loved ones. “This is not the time to incite anxiety or suspicion over the safety of Indian airlines,” it said.
Aviation experts and pilot associations have also rejected claims that the pilots were at fault. They pointed out that the preliminary report only noted a one-second switch movement from ‘RUNOFF’ to ‘CUT’ but made no conclusion on whether this action was deliberate or accidental. Moreover, the cockpit audio has not been released publicly, further raising questions about the accuracy of such claims.
Fuel control switches are specifically designed to prevent accidental toggling, and any suggestion of pilot error without conclusive evidence has been viewed as speculative and harmful.
In response to the initial findings, Indian aviation authorities instructed all airlines operating Boeing aircraft to conduct immediate checks on engine fuel control systems. Air India later confirmed that the checks were completed and no issues were found.
As the investigation continues, officials have reiterated the importance of avoiding misinformation and urged the public and media to await the official final report, which will provide a complete and authoritative account of the crash.
