Indian Pilots' Association Defends Air India Flight Crew Amid Speculation

Sat Oct 18 2025 07:18:36 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As media speculation mounts about the causes of the Air India Flight 171 crash, the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association calls for ethical reporting and respect for the crew’s professionalism.

The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association has defended the crew of the ill-fated Air India Flight 171, emphasizing that they acted responsibly during challenging circumstances. The association condemned irresponsible media speculation regarding pilot suicide and called for respect until the official investigation concludes.

The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) has come to the defense of the crew of Air India Flight 171, which tragically crashed in June, leading to the loss of 260 lives. In a statement released late Saturday, the association highlighted that the crew "acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions" and criticized suggestions of pilot suicide as unfounded and unethical.

A preliminary investigative report revealed that shortly after take-off, both fuel control switches on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner moved to the "cut-off" position, resulting in a fuel starvation of the engines. The report included a cockpit voice recording, where one pilot questioned the other about the cut-off switch activation, though it did not clarify who was responsible. The plane crashed within moments after both switches were flipped back to "run."

Experts have noted that the switches are engineered to prevent accidental activation, requiring specific actions to engage them, raising questions about how they were unintentionally set to "cut-off." In light of the report's findings, the ICPA expressed distress over the emerging narratives in media and public domains that increasingly leaned toward alleging pilot misconduct, particularly suicide.

The union stated unequivocally, “there is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage,” labeling such speculation as not only irresponsible but also deeply insensitive to the victims’ families. Moreover, the association criticized the perceived lack of transparency in the investigative process, expressing surprise that suitably qualified personnel were not involved.

Another pilot organization, the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA), has similarly raised concerns about the investigation's direction. They pointed out past advisories from the US Federal Aviation Administration regarding the aircraft's fuel control switch design, questioning whether necessary inspections, as per guidelines, were performed before the flight.

Calling for greater scrutiny on the investigation methods, ALPA's president, Captain Sam Thomas, urged authorities to allow participation in the investigative process to enhance transparency. Indian Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu weighed in on the matter on Saturday, urging the public to refrain from premature conclusions until the definitive report is published.

Flight 171 had departed from Ahmedabad, India, en route to Gatwick, London, carrying 242 individuals. Sadly, only one passenger survived the crash, which killed 241 on board alongside 19 on the ground. According to the preliminary report, the crew had passed all necessary tests and were suitably rested before flying.