The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) has defended the crew of Air India Flight 171, which crashed in June, killing 260 people. The association stated that the crew “acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions and the pilots shouldn’t be vilified based on conjecture”.
This statement comes after a preliminary report revealed that both fuel-control switches of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner moved to the “cut-off” position, starving the engines of fuel, seconds after takeoff.
The ICPA expressed deep concern over speculative narratives emerging in the media and public discourse, particularly the insinuation of pilot suicide. “To casually suggest pilot suicide without verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession,” the association added. The pilots’ union emphasized that there is no basis for such claims at this stage and that invoking serious allegations based on incomplete information is irresponsible and insensitive to the individuals and families involved.
The preliminary investigation, led by the Indian government with experts from Boeing, General Electric, Air India, and regulators from the US and UK, does not blame the pilots. The report highlights that the fuel switches were designed to prevent accidental activation and must be pulled up to unlock before flipping, with protective guard brackets shielding them from accidental bumps. Despite this, sections of the media and social media have been awash with speculation about the role of pilots.
The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India) has also raised concerns over the investigation’s handling, citing potential bias towards pilot error. The association demanded clarity on whether recommendations outlined in a 2018 US Federal Aviation Administration bulletin regarding fuel control switches were implemented before the flight. ALPA India president Captain Sam Thomas stated, “We feel that the investigation is being driven in a direction presuming the guilt of pilots and we strongly object to this line of thought.”
Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has urged caution, stating, “Let us not jump to any conclusions at this stage. Let us wait for the final report.” He described the pilots and crew in India as the “backbone of this civil aviation” and praised them as the “most wonderful workforce in terms of pilots and the crew in the whole world”. A final report is due to come out in a year.
