Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has urged restraint in interpreting the preliminary findings of the crash involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in Ahmedabad last month, stressing that the investigation is “far from over.”
In an internal memo to staff on Monday, seen by Reuters, Wilson said while the initial report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) offers more clarity, it also raises new questions. He warned against rushing to conclusions, noting the report “identified no cause nor made any recommendations.”
The crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on July 12, claimed 260 lives — 241 passengers and crew on board and 19 people on the ground. Only one person survived.
The AAIB report indicated confusion in the cockpit shortly before the crash, revealing that the aircraft’s engine fuel cutoff switches were almost simultaneously triggered, leading to a loss of thrust. However, it found no mechanical failure or maintenance lapses, and no immediate action has been recommended for Boeing or engine manufacturer GE.
Air India has been under intensified scrutiny since the crash, especially following a separate report that revealed its budget subsidiary, Air India Express, falsified maintenance records to appear compliant with engine part replacement requirements. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has launched its own inquiry into that matter.
Meanwhile, ALPA India, representing Indian pilots at the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations, has rejected any suggestion of pilot error and is demanding a “fair, fact-based inquiry.” Its president, Sam Thomas, told Reuters that the pilots’ body should be included in the investigation, at least as observers.
As investigations continue, the aviation industry and the families of victims await further findings from the AAIB and other regulatory bodies.
