Montreal [Canada], July 15 (ANI): The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) has urged restraint and caution in interpreting the preliminary findings of the investigation into the tragic crash of Air India Flight 171, which claimed 260 lives last month.
In a statement issued Monday, IFALPA emphasised that preliminary reports are designed to communicate factual data gathered in the early stages of an investigation and are not intended to offer definitive answers or assign blame. The federation specifically warned against media and social media speculation that could undermine the integrity of the ongoing probe.
“IFALPA again cautions against hasty conclusions published by the media and social media based on this report,” the group said. “A Preliminary Report is merely the means of communication used for the prompt dissemination of data obtained during the early stages of the investigation and only contains factual information and an indication of the progress of the investigation. Any extrapolation of its content can only be regarded as guesswork, which is not helpful to the good conduct of the investigation.”
The federation also noted that the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which released the report on July 11, clearly stated that no safety recommendations are being made at this stage. IFALPA reiterated its support for AAIB’s ongoing investigation, calling for professionalism and respect for the victims, including the families of the 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground who perished.
“The victims, including the families of the crew and passengers of Air India 171, deserve our collective professionalism while the full investigation is conducted,” the statement added.
Representing over 148,000 pilots across nearly 100 countries, IFALPA serves as the global voice of professional pilots and advocates for the highest standards of aviation safety.
The cautionary note comes days after India’s AAIB released its preliminary findings on the June 12 crash of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. According to the report, both fuel cutoff switches for the GE GEnx-1B engines moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within one second of each other during initial climb — approximately 30 seconds after reaching a maximum airspeed of 180 knots indicated airspeed — leading to a catastrophic loss of thrust.
The AAIB found no evidence of mechanical failure, design flaw, bird strike, or fuel contamination. Fuel samples tested satisfactory, and the engines and airframe were found to be in normal condition prior to takeoff.
The tragedy has sparked widespread concern and debate about possible human factors, training, or procedural lapses, though investigators stressed that it is too early to draw conclusions.
IFALPA underscored the importance of allowing a “thorough and professional investigation” to uncover all contributing factors before assigning responsibility or making policy recommendations.
(ANI)
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