Latest news with #AIFlight171
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
More pilots' bodies object to probe report on AI crash
In the wake of the release of the preliminary report into the Air India crash, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) on Sunday raised concern over imputations being made over the role of the AI171 pilots. Wreckage of AI Flight 171 after the crash on June 12. (PTI) 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.
Hindustan Times
22-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Cabin crew member's remains reach Imphal 10 days after Air India crash
Imphal: The mortal remains of 22-year-old cabin crew member Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma from Manipur, who was killed in the Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad, arrived at Bir Tikendrajit International Airport in Imphal on Sunday afternoon. A procession carrying Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma's remains moved from the airport towards her hometown, as people lined the roads to offer floral tributes and bid farewell to the young woman Nganthoi's family members flew with her remains on an IndiGo flight from Delhi. Officials from the civil aviation department and aerodrome staff received the body at Imphal airport around 1 pm. Nganthoi was among the 12 cabin crew members on board AI Flight 171 when it crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. The London-bound flight was carrying 242 passengers when it crashed moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Only one passenger from the flight survived. Another Manipur resident, 28-year-old Lamnunthem Singson, a Kuki cabin crew member, was also among the deceased. Her mortal remains reached her hometown in Kangpokpi district on late Thursday night. A solemn floral tribute ceremony was held inside the airport premises, where civil aviation staff, family, friends, and leaders, including chief secretary PK Singh, director general of police Rajiv Singh, Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, and Thoubal MLA Surjakumar Okram paid their respects. Nganthoi, a native of Thoubal Makha Leikai in Thoubal district, had been serving as a flight attendant with Air India for over five years. Her body was identified earlier in the week through forensic methods and was flown to Imphal on Sunday. A procession carrying her remains moved from the airport towards her hometown, as people lined the roads to offer floral tributes and bid farewell to the young woman, remembered for her warmth and dedication to service. Tributes have poured in from community leaders, student unions, and women's organisations who remembered her as a 'daughter of the soil' and a 'symbol of courage and aspiration'. The final rites were conducted according to Meitei rituals with community participation. Expressing condolences, MP Akoijam Bimol said, 'The tragic loss of Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi has deeply saddened all of Manipur. Her dedication and service will be remembered. We stand with her family during this time of immense grief.'
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ahmedabad plane crash: Have seen several crises, this one's most heartbreaking, says Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran; encourages staff to stay strong amid crisis
MUMBAI: Tata Sons and Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran called the June 12 crash of AI Flight 171 the most tragic ever he has ever seen. 'I have seen a reasonable number of crises in my career, but this (crash) is the most heartbreaking one, which I never thought I would see,' Chandrasekaran said in his address to the airline's 700 staff at its headquarters in Gurugram on Monday. He encouraged employees to stay strong amid criticism and emotional stress.'Those of us who are very passionate, emotional, and give our best to the job…it's not easy to handle criticism,' he said. 'I want you to be strong. If you feel distraught, remember the word 'determination'. This is the time to show resilience. We need to use this incident as a driving force to create a safer airline.' Chandrasekaran emphasised the complexity of aviation systems and the need to wait for allfacts before making judgments. 'Airplanes are highly complex, with many layers of checks and balances, and certifications built over years. Yet, this happens,' he said. 'We will figure out why it happened after the investigation.' He also acknowledged the pain caused by the crash and offered solidarity to the staff who responded with courage and calmness. Over 140 employees, including 40 engineers, are in Ahmedabad helping families affected by the tragedy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sunteck Presents Luxury 2 & 3 BHK in Mira Road Sunteck Sky Park Learn More Undo 'Nothing I say or do will bring back the lost lives,' he admitted. 'Peoplewill feel this pain for a long time. Still, we must do everything possible to support them.' In closing, he urged unity and focus. 'A company is what its people do. Big things happen through small actions. Every well-done task helps us flourish stronger. That's why we stay committed to doing our jobs well,' he said. 'Our goal is to rebuild trust, raise standards, and restore pride in Air India.'
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Channel criticism to build a safer airline: AI chair
Air India chairman N Chandrasekaran on Monday urged employees to channel criticism over the crash of AI Flight 171 in Ahmedabad last week into building a safer and better airline even as he met a top Boeing executive and Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu to discuss the accident and its aftermath. Describing the crash as the 'most heartbreaking' crisis of his career, Chandrasekaran told the company's employees at the airline's headquarters that 'we must wait for the outcome of the investigation before drawing conclusions,' an airline official said. Addressing the criticism the airline has faced, Chandrasekaran acknowledged that it is difficult for those who care deeply about their work and the future of the airline. However, he encouraged employees instead to draw strength from determination and channel their emotions into building a safer and better airline. 'We need to show resilience. We need to use this incident as an act of force to build a safer airline,' news agency PTI quoted him as saying. The Air India chairman said that the airline was doing its best to help the families of the victims. Chandrasekaran, also chairman of Air India's owner, Tata Sons, discussed the accident with civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu in a 45-minute meeting, officials said. 'The Tata group will begin to disburse their insurance amount of ₹25 lakhs in a couple of days,' a ministry official said. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed soon after taking-oof from Ahmedabad airport, killing 241 of the 242 passengers and crew on board. In a letter, Chandrasekaran had announced ₹1crore as compensation to the families of each victim. The company later said it would pay ₹25 lakhs as interim compensation to the families. A Reuters report citing two sources said the head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Stephanie Pope, also met Chandrasekaran Air India's headquarters in New Delhi on Monday. Boeing, in a statement to Reuters, declined to comment on Pope's visit and meeting with Air India but said it is 'focused on supporting the investigation' and its customer. Air India was one of Boeing's earlier customers for the Dreamliner when it rolled of the assembly lines in2011. Air India has a total of 33 Dreamliner 787, which are undergoing enhanced safety checks ordered by India's aviation regulator. Pope was accompanied by Boeing's India President Salil Gupte, one of the sources said in the report. Pope oversees design, production and delivery of advanced jetliners to Boeing customers around the world, according to the US plane maker's website. The Dreamliner was fitted with GE engines and GE Aerospace's CEO for Commercial Engines and Services, Russell Stokes, and its South Asia chief, Vikram Rai, also met Chandrasekaran on Monday, one of the sources added, according to the report.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Brothers seated across the aisle — only one walks out alive from Air India 171 crash
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Seat 11A became a lifeline for Viswashkumar Ramesh . Just across the aisle in 11J sat his brother, Ajaykumar Ramesh. Within 30 seconds of takeoff, fate tore the two apart, reported Thursday afternoon, AI Flight 171 — bound for London — crashed moments after departing Ahmedabad. Viswashkumar, a British citizen, stumbled out of the burning wreckage. He is the only confirmed survivor. He now lies in bed 11 of ward B7 at Ahmedabad civil hospital . His brother Ajaykumar is feared to be among the 265 who lost their lives.'There was a loud noise,' Viswashkumar told his cousin Dhirendra Somabhai from his hospital bed. 'The plane hung mid-air. Then came the pilot's voice: 'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!''Dhirendra told TOI Viswashkumar remembers only jumping through a door. 'Nothing more.'Video footage shows him staggering through debris, bloodied and in shock, crying out: 'Plane fatyo che! Plane fatyo che!' (The plane exploded). Locals and rescue workers rushed to pull him into an ambulance. At the hospital, he wept and kept repeating: 'Where is my brother? Leave me alone. I don't want to talk. Can anyone tell me where he is?'Officials sealed off his ward around 2:30 pm after confirming his identity. Gujarat ATS and Ahmedabad crime branch officers have since restricted brothers had lived in London for 15 years, jointly running a garment business in the UK and a fishing venture in Diu . They were among 15 residents from Diu's Bucharwada and Vanakbara villages on the friend Ayub Mansuri, who dropped them at the airport Thursday morning, said Viswashkumar's father in London was the first to call him with the news. 'I managed to speak to Viswash three times after the crash, but then his phone died,' he told the news outlet. 'I hired an auto and made my way past roadblocks to reach the hospital. He had head injuries and bruises.'Dhirendra recalled a brief conversation the night before. 'We were all in Patelwadi. Viswash looked at me and said, 'I don't know when we'll meet next.''Diu additional district magistrate Vivek Kumar confirmed that all 15 passengers from the region have been identified. 'Only one survived. A team from the Diu administration has left for Ahmedabad,' he told TOI.
