Ukhrul, July 12: The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA-I) has raised serious concerns over handling of the preliminary probe into the Air India flight AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12.
In a strongly worded statement addressed to the Press Trust of India on Saturday, ALPA-India president Capt Sam Thomas cristicised the preliminary report of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report on the AI 171 accident. The ALPA-I rejected the preliminary AAIB report claiming that it attributed the incident to pilot error.
“The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias towards attributing the incident to pilot error,” the statement reads. ALPA-India categorically rejects this presumption and insists on a fair, evidence-based inquiry,” ALPA-I stated.
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ALPA-India also raised serious concerns over the leak of sensitive details to the media and alleged that the AAIB preliminary report was shared with the media without any responsible official signature or attribution.
“Investigations continue to be shrouded in secrecy, undermining credibility and public trust. Qualified, experienced personnel, especially line pilots, are still not being included in the investigation team,” the association stated.
The association further raised alarm over a specific news report in The Wall Street Journal referring to the “inadvertent movement of the fuel control switches”. ALPA-I questioned how such sensitive information was leaked to international media.
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“A 10 July article in The Wall Street Journal refers to the inadvertent movement of the fuel control switches,” ALPA-India noted. “ALPA-India questions how such sensitive investigative details were leaked to international media,” the ALPA-I statement read.
The AAIB report cited a serviceability bulletin concerning the fuel control switch gates, suggesting a potential equipment malfunction.
“The report refers to a serviceability bulletin concerning the fuel control switch gates, indicating a possible equipment malfunction. While the bulletin is acknowledged, ALPA-India demands clarity on whether the recommendations outlined in the bulletin were implemented prior to the flight,” the association stated.
The association also called for inclusion in the investigation for transparency and accountability
“ALPA-India renews its request to be included – at the very least, as observers – in the investigation process to ensure transparency and accountability,” it added.
On June 12, London-bound Air India flight AI 171 with 242 people on board, including two pilots and 10 crew members, crashed minutes after take off, killing 241 on board and 19 on the ground, including four medical students of the BJ Medical College.
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