A former Pilot on Air India crash report: Foreign media are misleading the public. Wait for the final report
The people of India have a right to know the truth about what happened to Air India Flight 171. The anxiety and confusion among the public following the release of the preliminary report a few days ago are, therefore, understandable. However, it is equally important to remember that the Air India crash report is exactly what it claims to be: Preliminary. Its primary purpose is to establish what happened. The why and how will be addressed in the final report, which is typically released about a year after the incident. While the public's demand for answers is entirely justified, patience remains essential.
There is a rush in certain quarters to blame the pilots. Why should it come as a surprise that blame is already being directed at them? Within just two days of the crash, self-proclaimed aviation 'experts' flooded YouTube — some even donning captain's uniforms — offering detailed theories about the crash without any proximity to the site or access to verifiable information. Unsurprisingly, many of these theories centred on pilot error.
Yes, pilots — like doctors, engineers, or any other professional — are human beings and capable of mistakes. In this case, however, foreign media have jumped the gun. Some agencies have highlighted a section of the report that refers to an exchange between the pilots about the 'cut-off'. But this is a normal inquiry by a pilot in a situation where, during take-off, power fails to build, and there is insufficient thrust. Moreover, all pilots are trained that, in the event of a total engine failure, the correct procedure involves switching the engine off and attempting a restart. According to the report, the pilots attempted exactly that and almost succeeded. There was a relight on one engine. However, by that time, the aircraft was at too low an altitude, which led to it crashing into buildings. It was already too late.
The real question is: Why did both engines fail? The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) should provide those answers. It is entirely possible for engines to fail without pilot intervention. Modern aircraft rely on computers to calculate fuel flow and engine performance. It is not impossible for the system to malfunction — perhaps due to incorrect fuel ratio calculations — leading to engine failure. These systems are built with safeguards, but like any complex software, they are not infallible. Remember the case of ANA Flight NH985 from Tokyo Haneda to Osaka Itami, which suffered dual engine failure upon landing? Western investigative agencies often default to blaming the pilots, and similar stories are likely to emerge in the coming weeks.
There is no doubt that the preliminary Air India crash report could have offered more clarity; for instance, it would have been helpful if the details from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) had been made public. I have worked extensively with CVRs and DFDRs, and I know that while data retrieval is one task, proper interpretation is quite another. It takes a team of trained specialists to extract meaning: What time thrust was applied, whether the engine spooled up, how much fuel was injected — every detail can be examined. Interpretation, however, takes time. This is why we must be patient and allow the final Air India crash report to tell the full story. In the meantime, we must continue to ask the right questions.
Having worked with both Boeing and Airbus, including with their production test pilots, I can say with confidence that these professionals are deeply committed to safety. That said, no system is perfect. There is always scope for improvement — and yes, for error. But that's no reason to mislead the public. This is precisely why pilot federations are coming out strongly in defence of the crew, not simply out of solidarity, but because the facts are being selectively interpreted to sensationalise and unfairly suggest pilot error. One such federation is reportedly considering legal action against The Wall Street Journal for its coverage of the crash.
When I transitioned from the Air Force to civil aviation, I was shocked to discover that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had no aviators on its rolls. There may well be brilliant bureaucrats at the helm, but is it too much to ask for a single technical aviation expert? Similarly, there should be certified Boeing 787 pilots on the investigating team. This is one of the key things the Indian aviation ecosystem must urgently address — ensuring that technical expertise is not sidelined.
The writer is the founder of the Federation of Indian Pilots and a former Air Force and Air India pilot
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