Dispute Erupts Over Cause of Air India Flight 171 Crash
Preliminary findings suggesting pilot error have drawn sharp criticism from aviation safety groups and the pilots' union.
An investigation into the crash of Air India flight 171 has ignited a fierce debate over its cause, with preliminary findings suggesting pilot action as a potential factor. This has led to a backlash from safety campaigners, pilots' groups, and legal representatives of the victims' families, who argue the investigation is being compromised.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) released a preliminary 15-page report a month after the incident. While it did not present final conclusions or recommendations, two paragraphs generated significant controversy. According to the aircraft's flight data recorder, the fuel cutoff switches moved from the run to the cutoff position shortly after takeoff, which would have rapidly reduced engine thrust. The cockpit voice recorder reportedly captured one pilot asking the other why the switches were activated, with the response indicating the queried pilot did not perform the action.
This brief, unverified exchange, without attribution, fueled speculation in international media. Newsweek reported on the possibility that a pilot may have deliberately caused the crash, while former NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt told CBS News that the incident did not appear to be a mechanical issue but rather a result of someone in the cockpit shutting off fuel to the engines. The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter, suggested that recordings indicated the captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, was responsible for flipping the fuel switches.
The AAIB subsequently issued a statement condemning the "selective and unverified reporting" as "irresponsible" and urged the media and public to avoid premature conclusions that could undermine the integrity of the investigation. However, critics argue that significant damage to the investigation's credibility may have already occurred.
Captain CS Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), stated that when a pilot is deceased, agencies may collude to blame them to protect manufacturers, a pattern he claims is seen globally. The FIP, representing approximately 6,000 pilots, has deemed the preliminary report "irrevocably compromised." Alongside Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, the 91-year-old father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the FIP has petitioned India's Supreme Court for a judicial inquiry into the crash.
The final conclusions of the investigation have yet to be published, though further details may emerge in the coming days.