More pilots' bodies object to probe report on AI crash
The ICPA is a body originally formed by pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines that has, in the interest of fliers, raised several issues related to safety. In an official statement, the ICPA called accusations against the AI171 pilots and flight crew a 'gross violation' and a 'disservice to the profession'.
'In the aftermath of this incident, we are deeply disturbed by speculative narratives emerging in sections of the media and public discourse -- particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide,' said ICPA.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its 15-page preliminary report on the Air India crash on Saturday, July 12. It laid out the sequence of events for the ill-fated flight. As per the report, the fuel to both engines was cut off shortly after take-off. Based on the AAIB report, the fuel control switches were found in the 'cutoff' position.
'At about 08:08:42 UTC (1:38pm, 42 seconds) and immediately thereafter, the engine 1 and engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec,' the report stated.
'In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so,' it added.
'Let us be unequivocally clear: there is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage, and invoking such a serious allegation based on incomplete or preliminary information is not only irresponsible—it is deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved,' the ICPA said.
Any mention of pilot error or suicide 'in the absence of verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession'.
Air India flight 171 was headed for London's Gatwick Airport on June 12, when it crashed minutes after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The flight, which had 242 passengers on board (including cabin crew), crashed into BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad. The accident, which is among the deadliest aviation accidents recorded, killed a total of 260 people --- 241 on board and 19 on the ground at the crash site.
The Airline Pilots' Association (ALPA), a member of the International Federation of Airline Pilots' Association (IFALPA), in a statement on Saturday, said, 'The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias towards pilot error... ALPA India categorically rejects this presumption and insists on a fair, fact-based inquiry.'
While the report mentioned the fuel control switches being found in a mode opposite to what they should have been, it did not share the transcript of the CVR, which not only upset the pilot bodies but also industry experts.
It is learnt that the ALPA India is also considering taking legal action against the authorities for not having a pilot representative as part of the investigating committee.
'It is unfair for the government to not have a trained B787 pilot or a senior commander be part of the investigation. The actual fault leading to the crash should be known; however, there is a fear that the investigation is being carried out in one direction, which is to prove the pilots at fault,' one of its officials requesting anonymity said.
Officials in the know of the development said that ALPA India is to meet the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Monday for an issue not related to the crash. 'ALPA members are meeting the DGCA officials on Monday for some pilot-related issues, but they aim to also discuss the importance of a pilot representative during the investigation of the crash,' the person concluded.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Release full transcript of of AI flight 171's audio recording immediately
The report led to a fierce pushback from the Indian pilots' association, which suspected calumny while sections of Western media had started speculating on confusion in the cockpit, inferring pilot error. The AAIB, too, appeared to indicate it without explicitly saying so, as its report was open-ended. It begged the question: why did it share just two paraphrased sentences the pilots exchanged and not the full conversation? Here are some other questions. First officer Clive Kunder, 32, was flying the aircraft, while pilot-in-command Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, was monitoring it. Which of them asked the other why he shut the fuel switches? The first switch was off at 1.38.42 pm. Switching it on ought to have been a reflex action. Why did it take the pilots 10 seconds to do so? Why was fuel to the second engine switched on four seconds after the first and not simultaneously? While the first engine developed thrust after fuel was restored, the second struggled—why? The US's Federal Aviation Administration had flagged potential disengagements of Boeing's fuel switch locking feature way back in 2018. When was this craft's fuel switches last serviced? The AAIB must put out the full transcript of the fateful flight's recordings to dispel suspicion that the preliminary probe report was meant to frame the pilots, who tragically are incapable of defending themselves. Though the final report may take a year, full transparency even at this stage can give some closure to the families of the victims.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 hours ago
- Business Standard
Datanomics: Pilot error identified as top cause for air accidents
Jayant Pankaj Listen to This Article The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Saturday released its preliminary report on the June 12 Air India 171 crash in Ahmedabad, stating that the engine fuel switches appeared to have been 'cut off' seconds after the flight took off. As of now, it remains unclear whether the pilots themselves cut them off, and it is too early to conclude if pilot error was responsible for the accident. However, according to AAIB's investigations, pilot error did emerge as a major source of air accidents between 2014 and 2022. How they happened AAIB investigated 13 cases related to
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Economic Times
AI 171 crash probe raises more questions than answers
The sole purpose of states devoting resources to investigate an air accident is to determine the cause and take corrective action to prevent a recurrence. What such an investigation absolutely shouldn't do is apportion or indicate blame on investigators in the AI 171 crash have managed to do with the preliminary report that was released on Saturday is exactly opposite of that. It has left the airlines and regulators wondering what should be done to prevent another air tragedy, while hinting at casting aspersions on capability or mental health of pilots. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommends that in cases of heightened public attention, the state investigating the case should publish the report within 30 days. It should lay down all facts obtained during the early stages of the investigation and provide safety recommendations if it deems fit at that stage. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has done remarkably well to meet this deadline. But a bare reading of the report reflects it trying to hide more than providing information. Initial reports of investigations into similar crashes present a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) along with timestamps. For instance, while releasing the early report into the investigation of the accidents involving Boeing 737 Max aircraft, Indonesian and Ethiopian authorities laid out the entire transcript of the CVR. It depicted the pilots' struggle to regain control of the plane despite performing all procedures mandated by the manufacturer. Airlines and regulators across the world look to such cues to take preventive action so as to cut down any factors that can risk flight of such details in AAIB's report - while cherry-picking a single sentence in which one pilot is heard asking the other regarding why he had cut off the fuel switch, to which the reply was that he hadn't - is questionable. It has led to pointless speculation on pilot error, or worse, pilot suicide, since these switches in crafts like the 787 have safeguards like metal lock and a guard built around them to avoid any accidental 'switching off'.By keeping the report open-ended, AAIB has provided fertile ground for claims and counter-claims that can affect pilots at large. Further, it gives no further details on what happened in the 10 secs between the switches being cut off and being put on again. Surely, sharing such details wouldn't have harmed the probe process. Instead, it would have helped to understand why investigators believe they see no risk with either the Boeing 787 aircraft or GE report also cites a 2018 advisory of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which flagged the possibility of disengagement of the fuel switch-locking mechanism, although in a different type of aircraft. Because the bulletin was advisory and the issue was not deemed an unsafe condition, it stated that Air India did not conduct inspections on its fleet. It raises the suspicion about whether the crash was due to bad engineering practice. But in the very next sentence, the report states that Air India replaced the throttle control module twice, in 2019 and a modern-generation jet like Boeing 787, the thrust control module and fuel control switches are physically integrated into the same unit, and replacing the module also involves replacing fuel switches. If at all investigators felt that it was a significant fact in the accident, the least they could have done is advise airlines to check the locking mechanism of the crux of ensuring success of a process is to maintain public trust. The report has managed to break that trust with some claiming it's hiding pilot error, intentional or not. From the very start, the investigation process has been shrouded with controversy with AAIB or civil aviation ministry deciding not to give any update. It is essential to effectively communicate in today's 'real-time information' era. In the absence of that, it's misinformation that fills the void. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. The 10-second mystery: Did the Air India crash report hide more than what it revealed? Can Indian IT's 'pyramid' survive the GenAI shake-up? Zee promoters have a new challenge to navigate. And it's not about funding or Sebi probe. The deluge that's cooling oil prices despite the Iran conflict Stock Radar: Natco Pharma stock showing signs of momentum after falling over 30% from highs – what should investors do? In mid-caps, 'just hold' often creates wealth: 10 mid-cap stocks from different sectors with upside potential up to 44% F&O Talk | Foreign outflows, IT drag pull nifty lower; next support at 24,500: Rahul Ghose How to use dividend yield in volatile times: 6 stocks where this strategy has a high chance of giving much better returns
