Source India Today
India has dismissed an overseas media report that attributed a past Air India crash to alleged pilot error, calling the conclusions “incorrect and speculative” and warning against drawing premature inferences before the completion of an official investigation.
In a statement issued by aviation authorities, officials stressed that accident investigations follow internationally agreed technical procedures and require careful examination of flight data recorders, cockpit voice recordings, maintenance history, air traffic control inputs, and environmental conditions. Any attempt to assign blame before the final report, they said, undermines both the process and the credibility of aviation safety mechanisms.
The reaction came after an Italian publication cited unnamed sources and suggested that pilot action may have contributed to the accident. Indian officials responded that such claims are not supported by verified evidence and urged media organisations to rely only on officially released findings.
“The investigation is still underway. Drawing conclusions at this stage is inappropriate and risks misleading the public as well as causing distress to families of victims,” a senior civil aviation official said.
Authorities reiterated that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) — in coordination with international aviation bodies and manufacturers — is conducting a comprehensive probe. The final report will establish the sequence of events and recommend safety measures, rather than focusing solely on individual responsibility.
Air India also issued a brief statement expressing confidence in the ongoing investigation and reaffirmed support for the crew involved, noting their training and experience met regulatory standards.
Aviation experts say early speculation often complicates crash investigations by shaping public perception before facts are verified. Under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) norms, the primary objective of such probes is improving flight safety, not assigning blame.
India has urged media outlets and commentators to avoid conjecture and wait for the official findings, emphasizing that transparency will be maintained once verified conclusions are reached.
