Pilots’ body objects to release of report, wants role in inquiry

Wreckage of the crashed Air India level being lifted done a crane, successful Ahmedabad, Gujarat, connected June 14. PTI file

The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA-India) connected Saturday raised superior concerns implicit the transparency and absorption of the probe into the Air India AI 171 clang successful Ahmedabad, pursuing the merchandise of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report.

The pilots’ assemblage objected to the study being shared with the media without authoritative attribution, calling it a breach of protocol that undermines nationalist trust. The relation besides questioned wherefore experienced personnel, peculiarly enactment pilots, person not been included successful the probe squad truthful far.

The ALPA-India took peculiar objection to a study successful The Wall Street Journal published connected July 10, which referenced inadvertent question of the aircraft's substance power switches — a cardinal constituent of the ongoing investigation. The pilots’ assemblage demanded clarity connected however specified delicate accusation was leaked to planetary media.

In a statement, the organisation flagged compliance concerns related to a serviceability bulletin mentioned successful the AAIB study regarding the substance power control gates, primitively issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ALPA-India sought clarity connected whether the bulletin’s recommendations were implemented earlier the flight.

It further criticised what it termed a “presumption of aviator guilt” reflected successful the investigation’s tone, categorically rejecting immoderate specified bias and calling for a fair, fact-based inquiry.

Reiterating its long-standing demand, the ALPA-India urged the authorities to see its representatives successful the probe process, astatine slightest arsenic observers, to guarantee transparency and accountability. "Investigations proceed to beryllium shrouded successful secrecy, undermining credibility and nationalist trust,” ALPA-India president Capt Sam Thomas stated.