Latest news with #Al171
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
Now, International Federation of Pilots also says AI 171 report 'raises questions, provides no answers'
Air India plane crash (ANI photo) NEW DELHI: The preliminary report into the crash of the June 12 Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad continues to draw flak. Now, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) has warned against coming to "hasty conclusions". The report, whose details were known to a section of the western media 44 hours before the same was made public in by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in India, has led to a suicide theory being propounded that has been slammed by pilots and other aviation experts. "Whilst this preliminary report by its very nature raises many questions, it does not provide answers, and any extrapolation of its content can only be regarded as guesswork, which is not helpful to the good conduct of the investigation. IFALPA also notes that the report clearly states that no safety recommendations are being provided at this stage," IFALPA said after reviewing the report. "The victims, including the families of the crew and passengers of Air India 171, deserve our collective professionalism while the full investigation is conducted," it adds. Before IFALPA, the India Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) had slammed the "reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide" that has been doing the rounds after the preliminary report into AI 171 crash was made public on Saturday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เปรียบเทียบสเปรด: ระหว่าง Bitcoin และ Ethereum CFDs IC Markets อ่านเพิ่มเติม Undo While not sharing the cockpit voice recorder transcript, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report had this one line: "One of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so." ICPA, which is the union of erstwhile Indian Airlines, said in a statement issued Sunday: "We are deeply disturbed by speculative narratives, particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide. 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. " Expressing their "unwavering support for the flight crew of Air India flight Al 171," the ICPA statement added: "Pilots undergo extensive psychological and professional screening, recurrent training, and operate under the highest standards of safety, responsibility, and mental fitness. To casually suggest pilot suicide in the absence of verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession. " "As aviation professionals, we trust and respect the rigorous investigative protocols established by competent authorities. These inquiries are designed to uncover facts methodically and without bias. Until the official investigation is concluded and the final report is published, any speculation-especially of such a grave nature-is unacceptable and must be condemned.... The crew of Al 171 acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions. They deserve support-not vilification based on conjecture," it said.
The Age
15-07-2025
- General
- The Age
Airlines begin checking fuel switches after Air India crash report
Conjecture about the pilot's mental health has been criticised by an Indian pilot's union, the Indian Pilots Guild, which said: 'The crew of Al171 deserves a thorough, fact-driven investigation.' The crash of Gatwick-bound Air India flight 171, which occurred seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad, India, on June 12, killed all but one of the 242 passengers and crew. It also killed 19 people on the ground. The safety of the fuel switches has come under scrutiny with the release of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report on Friday. The bureau said the US Federal Aviation Administration issued an airworthiness bulletin in 2018 'regarding the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature'. But 'the airworthiness concern was not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant [an] airworthiness directive by the FAA'. Loading The throttle control module of the Air India 787 Dreamliner was replaced on the plane in 2019 and 2023, the AAIB notes. 'However, the reason for the replacement was not linked to the fuel control switch. There has been no defect reported pertaining to the fuel control switch since 2023', the AAIB reported. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has been contacted for comment. An Australian source with direct knowledge of aviation maintenance including fuel control switches said it was possible a 'faulty locking feature of the fuel cut off switches' could be to blame. In this case, the problem would result from a switch design that 'had a history of wearing out where the two-action positive lock function is lost allowing the switches to be easily and inadvertently [flipped] back to the CUT-OFF to then shut its engine down'. A worn-out fuel control could be switched off either by the brushing of the hand or vibration by the plane, said the source with decades of domestic and international aviation engineering experience, although both would have to be switched. If the switches were the issue, the manufacturers and airlines had a duty to seek information on their performance for future air directives too, said the source. Honeywell, the maker of the switches, said: 'We do not comment on rumour or speculation. Any questions on the incident should be directed to the appropriate investigating agencies.' Boeing has been contacted for comment. Under the International Civil Aviation Organisation rules, the nation where the accident or incident happened has responsibility for conducting the investigation. To date, the Boeing Dreamliner has had a strong safety record. However, given the safety and production problems linked to the two Boeing 737s Max planes that crashed in 2018 and 2019, the findings of the Air India crash investigation are being closely watched. Dr Geoffrey Dell, head of aviation safety for the AMDA Foundation, said the accident could be the result of an issue with the switches. 'Anything is possible. The question is how probable is it.' The problem with the content of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau preliminary report was there was no data included. It was, Dell said, 'interpretation information'. Without any other facts, it's difficult to 'draw reasonable or even partial conclusions', he said. Dell, who is an aviation crash investigator, said it would be unlikely to be a problem with the switches alone because they aren't designed to be moved accidentally. A pilot would have to adjust them both by accident. Loading The AAIB report states that after the aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots 'and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUT-OFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec.' They were found in the on position after the crash. Swinburne University school of engineering department of aviation's Salim Hijazeen said: 'While the switch design and past FAA advisories carry weight, they are unlikely to be the sole cause of the incident. 'What appears more plausible is a convergence of factors – including human performance limitations under high stress, a potential aircraft system issue which required pilot input, and breakdowns in procedural discipline.' In most flight deck operations, especially those involving engine shutdown, 'a cross-check and verbal confirmation between pilots is required before any critical input is made,' said Hijazeen. 'The report indicates that the pilot monitoring may not have been aware that the shutdown had occurred, pointing to a significant lapse in crew resource management and situational awareness.' A high workload and pressure may have exacerbated this during the initial take-off roll, he said, 'a phase of flight that we still do not fully understand in terms of cockpit dynamics and decision-making'. Dell, the investigator, said that saying pilot error was the cause of the crash is 'like saying the accident was caused by gravity. It's true but not very bloody helpful.' Loading A better question, Dell said, is: 'How did the system allow an error to cause a catastrophic loss? 'Obviously, there's a design problem with the mechanics and the human systems built around it.' The Lifeline number for crisis support is 13 11 14.
Sydney Morning Herald
15-07-2025
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Airlines begin checking fuel switches after Air India crash report
Conjecture about the pilot's mental health has been criticised by an Indian pilot's union, the Indian Pilots Guild, which said: 'The crew of Al171 deserves a thorough, fact-driven investigation.' The crash of Gatwick-bound Air India flight 171, which occurred seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad, India, on June 12, killed all but one of the 242 passengers and crew. It also killed 19 people on the ground. The safety of the fuel switches has come under scrutiny with the release of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report on Friday. The bureau said the US Federal Aviation Administration issued an airworthiness bulletin in 2018 'regarding the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature'. But 'the airworthiness concern was not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant [an] airworthiness directive by the FAA'. Loading The throttle control module of the Air India 787 Dreamliner was replaced on the plane in 2019 and 2023, the AAIB notes. 'However, the reason for the replacement was not linked to the fuel control switch. There has been no defect reported pertaining to the fuel control switch since 2023', the AAIB reported. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has been contacted for comment. An Australian source with direct knowledge of aviation maintenance including fuel control switches said it was possible a 'faulty locking feature of the fuel cut off switches' could be to blame. In this case, the problem would result from a switch design that 'had a history of wearing out where the two-action positive lock function is lost allowing the switches to be easily and inadvertently [flipped] back to the CUT-OFF to then shut its engine down'. A worn-out fuel control could be switched off either by the brushing of the hand or vibration by the plane, said the source with decades of domestic and international aviation engineering experience, although both would have to be switched. If the switches were the issue, the manufacturers and airlines had a duty to seek information on their performance for future air directives too, said the source. Honeywell, the maker of the switches, said: 'We do not comment on rumour or speculation. Any questions on the incident should be directed to the appropriate investigating agencies.' Boeing has been contacted for comment. Under the International Civil Aviation Organisation rules, the nation where the accident or incident happened has responsibility for conducting the investigation. To date, the Boeing Dreamliner has had a strong safety record. However, given the safety and production problems linked to the two Boeing 737s Max planes that crashed in 2018 and 2019, the findings of the Air India crash investigation are being closely watched. Dr Geoffrey Dell, head of aviation safety for the AMDA Foundation, said the accident could be the result of an issue with the switches. 'Anything is possible. The question is how probable is it.' The problem with the content of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau preliminary report was there was no data included. It was, Dell said, 'interpretation information'. Without any other facts, it's difficult to 'draw reasonable or even partial conclusions', he said. Dell, who is an aviation crash investigator, said it would be unlikely to be a problem with the switches alone because they aren't designed to be moved accidentally. A pilot would have to adjust them both by accident. Loading The AAIB report states that after the aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 knots 'and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUT-OFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec.' They were found in the on position after the crash. Swinburne University school of engineering department of aviation's Salim Hijazeen said: 'While the switch design and past FAA advisories carry weight, they are unlikely to be the sole cause of the incident. 'What appears more plausible is a convergence of factors – including human performance limitations under high stress, a potential aircraft system issue which required pilot input, and breakdowns in procedural discipline.' In most flight deck operations, especially those involving engine shutdown, 'a cross-check and verbal confirmation between pilots is required before any critical input is made,' said Hijazeen. 'The report indicates that the pilot monitoring may not have been aware that the shutdown had occurred, pointing to a significant lapse in crew resource management and situational awareness.' A high workload and pressure may have exacerbated this during the initial take-off roll, he said, 'a phase of flight that we still do not fully understand in terms of cockpit dynamics and decision-making'. Dell, the investigator, said that saying pilot error was the cause of the crash is 'like saying the accident was caused by gravity. It's true but not very bloody helpful.' Loading A better question, Dell said, is: 'How did the system allow an error to cause a catastrophic loss? 'Obviously, there's a design problem with the mechanics and the human systems built around it.' The Lifeline number for crisis support is 13 11 14.
India Gazette
14-07-2025
- India Gazette
AI 171 crash: Pilots' association slams
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) has condemned the 'reckless and unfounded insinuation' that pilot suicide might be the cause of the tragic crash of the Air India 171 flight in Ahmedabad on June 12, following the preliminary investigation report on the accident. Until the official investigation is concluded and the final report is published, 'any speculation, especially of such a grave nature, is unacceptable and must be condemned,' the ICPA said in a statement. According to the preliminary report submitted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on July 12, the fuel control switches of the flight shifted or 'transitioned' to the cut-off position three seconds after the aircraft became airborne. The fuel cut-off switches of both the engines transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 1 sec, it said. 'The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) expresses its unwavering support for the flight crew of Air India flight Al 171. 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,' the ICPA said in the statement. '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,' it added. The ICPA also called upon the media organisations and public commentators to act with restraint, empathy, and respect for due process. The ICPA pointed out that pilots undergo extensive psychological and professional screening, recurrent training, and operate under the highest standards of safety, responsibility, and mental fitness. To casually suggest pilot suicide in the absence of verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession, it said. 'As aviation professionals, we trust and respect the rigorous investigative protocols established by competent authorities. These inquiries are designed to uncover facts methodically and without bias. Until the official investigation is concluded and the final report is published, any speculation, especially of such a grave nature, is unacceptable and must be condemned,' the statement said. 'We call upon media organisations and public commentators to act with restraint, empathy, and respect for due process. The crew of Al 171 acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions. They deserve support, not vilification based on conjecture. The ICPA remains committed to defending the integrity and well-being of our members and calls on all to uphold the principles of fairness and factual reporting,' the pilots' association stressed. The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members; all but 1 passenger were killed. The crash also killed 19 people and injured 67 more on the ground. (ANI)
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'You don't even know basics': Pilots' Association objects to Air India crash probe report; says 'not happy with investigation, unfairly blames crew'
NEW DELHI: The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA) on Monday raised concerns over the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary report on the Air India 171 crash, saying they were 'not happy' with the investigation. Speaking to news agency PTI, ALPA India president Sam Thomas said, "The timing of the release of document was middle of the night, it doesn't have any signatures, one sentence is misleading, there is no altitude of aircraft given, these are elementary mistakes terms like full authority digital engine control was written 'dual engine control', so you don't even know the basics." "We are not happy with the investigation, it is going in direction of blaming the pilots, that is our objection," he added. These remarks come after India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the June 12 plane Air India crash. The report, released late Saturday night, revealed that both engine fuel switches had moved to the "CUTOFF" position seconds after takeoff, leading to a loss of thrust and the eventual crash that killed 260 people. According to the AAIB's preliminary findings, 'the engine 1 and engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of one second,' just three seconds after the aircraft became airborne. The report did not offer any blame or conclusions but noted a cockpit exchange in which one pilot asked the other why he had cut off the fuel, to which the other replied he had not. No further details of the cockpit dialogue were disclosed. ALPA India, which represents Indian pilots under the global ALPA-I network, strongly criticised the preliminary crash report, alleging procedural flaws and a rushed attempt to blame the pilots. Earlier in a statement, ALPA had said that, "The tone and direction of the investigation suggest a bias toward pilot error. We categorically reject this presumption and insist on a fair, fact-based inquiry." ALPA has formally requested the AAIB to be included in the investigation process as observers "to provide the requisite transparency." It also criticised the bureau for releasing documents "without any responsible official signature or attribution." Another Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) said it was deeply disturbed by speculative narratives and particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide. "The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) expresses its unwavering support for the flight crew of Air India flight Al 171. 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," the ICPA said in the statement. "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," it added. The association highlighted the rigorous psychological and professional screening processes that pilots undergo, alongside regular training to maintain the highest safety standards and mental fitness requirements. They stated that suggesting pilot suicide without verified evidence undermines ethical reporting and professional dignity. ICPA urged media outlets and commentators to exercise restraint and show respect for proper investigative procedures. " The ICPA remains committed to defending the integrity and well-being of our members and calls on all to uphold the principles of fairness and factual reporting," the pilots' association added. The Air India Flight 171 crash claimed the lives of 241 out of 242 people on board, which included 230 passengers and 12 crew members, only one passenger survived. On the ground, 19 people were killed and 67 others were injured. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
