Pilot Groups Dismiss Human Error Claims in Air India Crash

• ICPA “profoundly troubled” by speculative claims.
• Condemns insensitive allegations against individuals and families.
• ALPA asserts that the investigation is leaning towards pilot culpability.

NEW DELHI: Two prominent commercial pilots’ associations have dismissed assertions that human error led to an Air India crash that resulted in 260 fatalities, following a preliminary report revealing that the airplane’s engine fuel switches were turned off.

Released on Saturday by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the report did not draw any conclusions or assign culpability for the June 12 tragedy. However, it did indicate that one pilot questioned the other about the cutoff of fuel, to which the second pilot replied that he had no knowledge of it.

Further details about the cockpit conversation between the pilots were not disclosed.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) expressed being “profoundly troubled by speculative narratives,” particularly the “reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide.”

“There is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage,” the ICPA stated in a release on Sunday, noting that such allegations are “profoundly insensitive to the individuals and families involved.”

“To suggest pilot suicide casually, without verified evidence, is a severe breach of ethical journalism and undermines the dignity of the profession,” the statement continued.

The initial findings from the investigation have led to speculation among independent aviation experts suggesting that either intentional or unintentional pilot actions might have contributed to the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashing shortly after departing from Ahmedabad, located in western India.

The ICPA referred to various aviation experts who indicated that engine fuel control switches can only be manipulated manually and intentionally.

The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA India), another organization representing 800 pilots, criticized the investigation agency for maintaining “secrecy” throughout the inquiry, asserting that “suitably qualified personnel” were not included.

“We believe the investigation is being guided by an assumption of the pilots’ culpability, and we strongly oppose this perspective,” ALPA India President Sam Thomas stated in a press release on Saturday.

ALPA, which claims over 100,000 members globally, has also requested to the AAIB that they be allowed to participate as “observers” to enhance transparency in the investigation.

The crash claimed the lives of all but one of the 242 people on board, as well as 19 individuals on the ground.