‘Let’s not jump to conclusions’: Centre on preliminary Air India crash report

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has appealed to the public and media to exercise restraint and not draw hasty conclusions from the preliminary findings of the Air India crash that occurred in Ahmedabad on June 12. Addressing the media on Saturday, the minister emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing and that only the final report will provide clarity on the exact cause of the tragedy.

Also Read:‘Why did You cut the fuel?’- AAIB report reveals cockpit confusion behind Ahmedabad Air India Incident

“The Ministry is closely reviewing the initial report, but several technical aspects need thorough analysis. We must avoid speculation at this stage,” Naidu said. He added that aviation safety investigations are complex and involve multiple layers of technical scrutiny, especially in cases like this where critical aircraft systems are involved.

Naidu also reiterated the government’s confidence in India's aviation professionals. “Our pilots and crew are among the most skilled in the world. It is important not to cast doubt based on incomplete information,” he noted.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Muralidhar Mohol, supported this view and confirmed that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting the inquiry independently and professionally. He added that the cockpit voice recordings were decoded domestically and insisted that the brief exchange between the pilots, caught on the recorder, should not be the basis for conclusions.

The initial AAIB report has indicated that just three seconds after take-off, fuel supply to both engines of the Boeing 787 aircraft was cut off, with both fuel control switches flipping from “RUN” to “CUTOFF.” The reason for this shift, whether accidental or intentional, remains unclear. A short exchange between the pilots captured on the cockpit recorder revealed confusion about the fuel cut-off, with both denying having activated it.

The aircraft, headed for London, crashed into a hostel building on the BJ Medical College campus, killing all 260 people on board and on the ground.