Pilots’ body objects to release of report, wants role in inquiry

The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA-India) on Saturday raised serious concerns over the transparency and direction of the investigation into the Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, following the release of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report.

The pilots’ body objected to the report being shared with the media without official attribution, calling it a breach of protocol that undermines public trust. The association also questioned why experienced personnel, particularly line pilots, have not been included in the investigation team so far.

The ALPA-India took particular exception to a report in The Wall Street Journal published on July 10, which referenced inadvertent movement of the aircraft's fuel control switches — a key element of the ongoing investigation. The pilots’ body demanded clarity on how such sensitive information was leaked to international media.

In a statement, the organisation flagged compliance concerns related to a serviceability bulletin mentioned in the AAIB report regarding the fuel control switch gates, originally issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ALPA-India sought clarity on whether the bulletin’s recommendations were implemented before the flight.

It further criticised what it termed a “presumption of pilot guilt” reflected in the investigation’s tone, categorically rejecting any such bias and calling for a fair, fact-based inquiry.

Reiterating its long-standing demand, the ALPA-India urged the government to include its representatives in the investigation process, at least as observers, to ensure transparency and accountability. "Investigations continue to be shrouded in secrecy, undermining credibility and public trust,” ALPA-India president Capt Sam Thomas stated.