Air India flight 171 crash: AAIB flags 'irresponsible' global media coverage, urges restraint amid ongoing probe

Amid ongoing investigations into the Air India flight 171 crash, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Thursday cautioned against “selective and unverified reporting” by sections of the international media, calling such coverage irresponsible and potentially damaging to the probe’s integrity.

It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting, said AAIB on the deadly Air India Boeing plane crash last month that killed 260 people.

"Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing. We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process."

The purpose of the AAIB's investigation and preliminary report is to provide information about 'WHAT' happened, the investigating agency said.

AAIB added that the preliminary report has to be seen in this light. "At this stage, it is too early to reach to any definite conclusions. The investigation by AAIB is still not complete. The Final Investigation Report will come out with root causes and recommendations."

AAIB will also publish updates as and when required which have technical and public interest, it added.

Earlier on Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported that a cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the flight indicated that the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines.

AAIB's preliminary report has faced criticism from airline officials and experts saying that it selectively gave a single sentence from the cockpit voice recorder which has provided suspicion of pilot suicide while giving no other details. It also said that it has no instructions for the manufacturer of the plane and engine Boeing and GE.

The report also references a 2018 FAA advisory that warned of possible disengagement of the fuel switch-locking mechanism in another aircraft type. As the advisory was not linked to an unsafe condition, Air India did not inspect its fleet. However, Air India replaced the integrated throttle and fuel control module in its Boeing 787 jets in both 2019 and 2023, which included replacement of the fuel switches. It also said that it has no instructions for the manufacturer of the plane and engine Boeing and GE.

“The report, as released, lacks comprehensive data and appears to rely selectively on paraphrased cockpit voice recordings to suggest pilot error and question the professional competence and integrity of the flight crew,” Federation of Indian pilots said. “This approach is neither objective nor complete,” it said.