AAIB probe into Air India crash transparent, totally unbiased: Ram Mohan Naidu
His comments in the Rajya Sabha came in the wake of a raft of reports in western media that have blamed the commander of the aircraft for the crash, claiming that he switched off fuel to the engines. AAIB's preliminary report identifies the fuel switches being in cut-off position as the reason for the engine failure, and paraphrases a conversation between the two pilots, with one asking the other whether he cut the fuel, and receiving a negative response. The report did not say what could have caused this, but said there was nothing wrong with either the engine or the aircraft.
Also Read | 'Speculative': US transport safety body NTSB slams Air India crash media reports blaming pilot
Replying to Rajya Sabha MP Ashokrao Chavan, Naidu said: ' AAIB got into the investigation right after the accident happened… they have started the process according to international standards… they have involved all subject matter experts… necessary people who are supposed to be participating in the investigation. They have gone through the first set of investigation processes and have given us the preliminary report.'
To be sure, AAIB has responded to western media reports by clarifying that its preliminary report was only about the 'what' and not the 'why' or 'how'.
The civil aviation minister said that definitive answers will only be available once the AAIB's final report is ready.
Talking about the preliminary report and decoding of the black box of the B787 that crashed on June 12, Naidu said, ' Whenever these accidents happen and the black box gets damaged. It was always sent to the original equipment manufacturer and for decoding.' This time, he added, that the black box was decoded in the county for the first time and 'we have done it successfully'.
Also Read: Two media houses get pilot bodies' notice for coverage of Air India crash report
Replying to MP Anil Kumar Yadav Mandadi, minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol, in a written reply, said that the data from one of the flight recorders of AI-171 (VT-ANB) has been downloaded in the Flight Recorder Lab of the AAIB at Udaan Bhawan.
Naidu asked people to 'respect the process'.
'We want to stand by the truth. We want to find out what exactly happened and that is only going to be coming out once the final report (of AAIB) is placed. We have to respect the process of investigation and once that process has happened, then we can talk about what happened, how it happened and then corrective measures (can be taken),' the minister said.
'I can say this in the House and to the people of the country that AAIB has a very definitive and thorough rule-based process. They are very transparently looking at the (investigation) process right now and they are totally unbiased,' Naidu added.
Referring to western media reports, he said: 'There have been multiple reports not only in India but also in the Western media, trying to air their own viewpoints and narratives but I want to tell you that the way we are seeing the investigation is through the facts. We want to stand by the truth and not what is happening with the pilots, Boeing, Air India or any other stakeholder'. We want to find out what exactly happened. We have to respect the process of investigation.'
India's civil aviation regulator has always focused on safety, he said, replying to another question from Fauzia Khan: 'In terms of safety, DGCA has inspections which are planned, ramp inspections, spot checks, and night surveillance… they conduct safety audits…they keep monitoring all aircraft and airports…whenever such incidents happen… we ensure that there is no negligence and no incompetence on any of the processes, nd if something takes place because of the negligence then we take a serious actions on the operator and any necessary person and impose penalties..'
Separately, in a written reply to MP John Brittas, Mrulidhar Mohol said, 'During the last six months, a total of nine show cause notices have been issued to Air India in connection with five identified safety violations. Enforcement action has been completed in respect of one violation. '
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
3 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi's foreign visits cost state exchequer over ₹350 crore since 2021: MEA
India spent over ₹67 crore on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to five countries in 2025, and more than ₹295 crore on foreign trips between 2021 and 2024, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) told the Parliament on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on his visit to the United Kingdom earlier this week. (Photo from X) The figures were shared in a written response to a query by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien. The MEA provided details of expenditures on visits to five countries so far in 2025 – France, the United States, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Saudi Arabia – while clarifying that bills for visits to the remaining nine countries undertaken this year are still being processed. Among the disclosed figures for 2025, ₹25.5 crore were spent on the visit to France, ₹16.5 crore for the US, ₹4.9 crore for Thailand, ₹4.4 crore for Sri Lanka and ₹15.5 crore for Saudi Arabia. A year-wise breakdown shows that foreign visits by the Prime Minister cost over ₹100 crore in 2024, ₹93 crore in 2023, ₹55 crore in 2022, and ₹36 crore in 2021. The most expensive single destination so far has been the United States, where four visits since 2021 cost over ₹74.44 crore. This was followed by France ( ₹41.29 crore across three visits) and Japan ( ₹32.96 crore across three visits). The MEA also provided data on publicity-related expenses, noting that over ₹1.03 crore was spent on advertising and broadcasting the PM's public engagements abroad. The highest of these expenses was in Egypt ( ₹11.90 lakh), while several countries registered zero expenditure under this head. Common activities listed as part of PM Modi's foreign itinerary included bilateral meetings, interactions with the Indian diaspora, participation in international summits, memorial visits and state banquets. In terms of official delegations, the Prime Minister travelled with 145 officials to 16 countries in 2024. In 2025 so far, he visited France and the US with 15 delegates each; Thailand and Sri Lanka with 16; Saudi Arabia and Mauritius with 11; and several others, including Cyprus, Canada, and Argentina, with delegations ranging from 13 to 15 members. In comparison, 85 officials accompanied him to 10 countries in 2023, 84 to eight countries in 2022 and 41 to four countries in 2021.
Hindustan Times
3 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
HC collegiums yet to recommend names for 193 vacancies of judges: Govt in RS
New Delhi, A total of 371 posts of judges are vacant in various high courts across the country and high court collegiums have not sent any recommendation yet for more than 50 per cent of these vacancies, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. HC collegiums yet to recommend names for 193 vacancies of judges: Govt in RS The government lamented that while the high courts are required to make recommendations at least six months before the occurrence of a vacancy, this time limit is "rarely observed". In a written reply to a question by Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that as on July 18, against the sanctioned strength of 1,122 judges, 751 are working. As many as 371 posts of judges are vacant in various high courts and against these vacancies, 178 proposals for appointment are at various stages of processing between the government and the Supreme Court Collegium, Meghwal said. The recommendations against 193 vacancies are yet to be received from the high court collegiums, the minister said. According to the memorandum of procedure a set of documents which guide appointment, transfer and elevation of Supreme Court and high court judges the responsibility for initiation of proposals for appointment of judges in the Supreme Court vests with the Chief Justice of India, while the responsibility for initiation of proposals for appointment of judges in the high courts vests with the chief justice of the concerned high court. As per the MoP, the high courts are required to make recommendations at least six months before the occurrence of a vacancy. However, this time limit is "rarely observed", Meghwal said. For appointments to the high courts, the views of concerned state government are obtained in accordance with the MoP. The recommendations also have to be considered in the light of such other reports as may be available to the government in respect of the names under consideration. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
NDTV
9 minutes ago
- NDTV
112 Air India Pilots Took Sick Leave 4 Days After Dreamliner Crash
New Delhi: Over 100 Air India pilots went on medical leave four days after a Boeing 787-Dreamliner crashed in Ahmedabad, losing thrust mid-air and slamming into a hostel building two km from the airport boundary, killing 274 people, junior Aviation Minister Murlidhar Mohol said Thursday. Mr Mohol told Parliament 51 Commanders and 61 Flight Officers put in leave requests on that day, underlining the need to recognise and manage pilots' mental health, particularly after a crash. Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, he said airlines were issued - in February 2023 - notices requiring them to ensure "quick and effective methods to assess mental health" during medical tests. He said, airlines and airport authorities were also instructed to introduce "standalone and customised training capsules" for flight crew and air traffic controllers to manage potential mental health problems. And they were also advised to set up peer support groups to "assist and support flight crew / ATCOs (air traffic control officers) in recognising (and) coping with any problem". DGCA Notices To Air India Air India, meanwhile, confirmed receipt of four show-cause notices from the Director-General of Civil Aviation Wednesday for breaching safety standards related to managing crew fatigue and training. The notices follow voluntary disclosures by the airline over the past 12 months and relate to breaches in ensuring rest periods for cabin crew, training norms, and operational procedures. This afternoon an airline spokesperson said, "We acknowledge receipt of these notices... related to certain voluntary disclosures made over the last one year. We will respond to the said notices..." Air India remains committed to the safety of our crew and passengers, the spokesperson said. The domestic carrier has now received 13 notices in the past six months for multiple safety violations and incidents, such as Tuesday's fire to the auxiliary power unit of an Airbus A321 that flew from Hong Kong to Delhi. The fire broke out after the plane landed. It was contained and there were no injuries. Twenty-four hours prior there two other incidents - a Kochi-Mumbai flight veered off the runaway and suffered damage to an engine cover, and a Delhi-Kolkata flight aborted take-off at the last minute. READ | AI Pilots Cancel Take-Off, Hit Brakes When Plane Was At 155 Km/Hr An identical incident was reported this morning; a Delhi-Mumbai Air India Express plane cancelled take-off after an issue with screens displaying the aircraft's speed. Air India been battling turbulence since the Dreamliner crashed 32 seconds after take-off. A preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau highlighted movement of the fuel supply switches from the 'RUN' to the 'CUTOFF' positions, which would have shut down the engines. NDTV Decodes | Engines Shut, Fuel Cut Off - Inside Doomed Air India Flight The switches - designed to not move from accidental contact - were, however, found to have moved within a second of each other, leading to media reports a pilot toggled them deliberately. The final report - which should explain exactly what happened - is pending. READ | The media speculation about the switches, and a fragment of the last conversation between the pilots - Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and Flight Officer Clive Kunder - in which one asks the other if they switched the fuel supply off (and the other says 'no'), has been called out by the AAIB and government. The aviation investigator slammed the reports as "unverified" and "irresponsible". The reportage - led by American publication the Wall Street Journal - was also called out by the United States' National Transportation Safety Board, which is helping the AAIB in this matter. In the aftermath of the initial report, domestic airlines operating Boeing jets were told to conduct checks on the fuel supply switches. Air India later said it had finished the checks and found "no issues".
