The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA-India) has raised serious concerns over the preliminary findings of the Air India Boeing 787-8 crash investigation. The pilots’ union alleged a clear bias against the flight crew and is now considering legal action to secure a role in the official probe.
The crash of Air India flight AI 171 on June 12 resulted in the tragic loss of 260 lives. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report on Saturday, sparking immediate criticism from ALPA-India.
In its report, the AAIB stated that the fuel switches on both engines were turned off within a second of takeoff. This caused confusion in the cockpit and led to a catastrophic chain of events.
The report cites cockpit voice recordings, where one pilot questioned why the switch was cut, while the other denied doing so. However, ALPA-India strongly refutes the suggestion of pilot error. “We feel the investigation is being driven with a presumption of pilot guilt. We object to this approach,” the association said in a statement.
Speaking to Media, ALPA-India President Sam Thomas said, “We want transparency. The report has no signatures. We had requested to be part of the panel. Our members have the domain expertise to contribute meaningfully.”
Thomas added that ALPA-India is actively exploring legal options to ensure fair representation in the ongoing probe.
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ALPA-India is a member of the International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA), which includes 100,000 pilots globally. IFALPA had earlier offered technical assistance to AAIB, emphasizing the need for international best practices.
Despite this, ALPA-India claims that qualified personnel from pilot bodies were excluded.
The AAIB’s five-member panel includes pilots, engineers, and medical experts. This crash marks the first-ever hull loss involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, adding further pressure on the investigation.
The pilots’ union now demands transparency, accountability, and unbiased inquiry
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