New Delhi: Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has appealed for restraint and patience as the official probe into the tragic Air India plane crash continues. The June 12 accident claimed 274 lives, including 19 on the ground, during a flight from Delhi to Frankfurt.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, the minister emphasized the need to avoid speculation and allow the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to complete its work transparently. “There are multiple theories floating around, especially from Western media outlets, but let us respect the investigative process. We are focused on facts, and the truth will emerge only through a complete and thorough investigation,” he said.
Naidu’s comments follow widespread international media coverage, particularly reports centered around preliminary findings that indicated both fuel control switches were moved from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ positions seconds before the crash—potentially cutting power to both engines during takeoff.
One such report from the Wall Street Journal cited cockpit voice recordings suggesting the First Officer questioned the Captain about the switch movement. The Captain reportedly denied moving the toggles. However, Indian authorities have strongly pushed back against these narratives.
Last week, the AAIB condemned the foreign press for “selective” and “unverified” reporting, accusing them of undermining public trust and safety confidence in Indian aviation. The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) of the United States, which is assisting in the probe, also called some international reports “speculative and premature.”
The AAIB clarified that while the fuel switches on the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner are spring-loaded and designed to prevent accidental activation, no final conclusions have been drawn yet. Domestic airlines have since been directed to inspect all fuel-related components in India-registered Boeing aircraft, with Air India confirming that its fleet checks were completed without any issues.
A final report from the AAIB is awaited, which will provide a conclusive explanation of what led to one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent years.
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