Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu has called for restraint in drawing conclusions from the preliminary report on the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad. Speaking to reporters in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, Naidu emphasized that the findings released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AIBB) are not final. “We shouldn’t rush to judgments,” he said, praising the investigative team’s efforts and expressing confidence in a forthcoming final report.
Naidu also defended the aviation workforce, stating, “I firmly believe we have some of the finest pilots and crew globally.” He highlighted the transparency of the investigation, noting it as India’s first fully domestic probe of its kind, conducted in line with international standards.
The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA), however, raised concerns about the investigation’s direction. In a statement issued Saturday, ALPA criticized the probe for appearing to assume pilot error, calling for greater transparency and requesting inclusion as observers to ensure fairness. The association also pointed out a lack of sufficiently qualified personnel in the investigation process.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol echoed Naidu’s call for caution, saying it’s premature to draw firm conclusions from the preliminary findings. He described the AAIB as an independent body doing commendable work.
Also read: Air India Crash: 10 Key Insights from AAIB’s Initial Report on Ahmedabad Tragedy
According to the preliminary report, the crash occurred after both engine fuel switches moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within a one-second interval during takeoff, when the aircraft was at peak speed. The report does not specify whether this was due to human error, mechanical issues, or an electronic fault—a key question still under investigation.