Washington, DC, July 20 - The catastrophic crash of Air India Flight 171 on June 12, 2025, which claimed 260 lives, continues to be a focal point of intense investigation and widespread speculation. In a recent significant development, the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has publicly denounced Western media reports concerning the accident as "premature and speculative," emphasizing that such narratives undermine the integrity of the ongoing probe. This statement from NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy came as fresh leaks, seemingly from sources privy to the investigation, continued to fuel unverified theories about the cause of the disaster.
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The Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the inquiry into the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad, had previously issued its preliminary report. While providing initial facts, this report notably refrained from drawing definitive conclusions. It confirmed that both engine fuel cutoff switches transitioned from "RUN" to "CUTOFF" seconds after liftoff, leading to a loss of thrust. The preliminary findings also indicated that the aircraft had no mechanical or maintenance issues, and the pilots' medical statuses and fuel quality were not found to be abnormal. However, the report’s brevity regarding the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript, only including an indirect quote of one pilot asking, "Why did you cut off?" and the other responding, "I didn't do so," inadvertently opened doors for conjecture.
This laconic detail in the official preliminary report, combined with a vacuum of immediate comprehensive updates from Indian authorities, appears to have contributed to the proliferation of detailed, albeit unverified, accounts in various international media outlets. These reports have frequently pointed towards pilot action, specifically the accidental or deliberate movement of the fuel control switches, as a primary factor in the crash. Some reports have even cited alleged timestamps from the CVR, detailing a sequence where engines were starved of fuel immediately after takeoff and a panicked exchange between the pilots ensued. These foreign media narratives have often placed the onus on the captain, even though the AAIB's preliminary report identified the First Officer as the pilot flying and the Captain as the pilot monitoring.
The NTSB's intervention underscores the complexities and sensitivities inherent in major aviation accident investigations. Chairwoman Homendy stressed that inquiries of this magnitude require considerable time to thoroughly analyze all evidence and determine root causes. Her statement explicitly supported the AAIB’s public appeal for restraint against "irresponsible" drawing of conclusions through "selective and unverified reporting," highlighting the need to respect the investigative process and the sensitivity surrounding such a tragic loss of life. Despite these calls for caution from official bodies, the leaks and speculative reports have persisted. The constant flow of unconfirmed details from alleged sources has created a challenging environment for both the investigating agencies and the public. These unofficial narratives, often presented with considerable detail, starkly contrast to the measured and fact-based approach that official investigations are bound by, which typically withhold conclusions until all evidence has been meticulously examined and corroborated. The focus now remains on the AAIB to release a comprehensive final report that will provide conclusive findings and address the myriad questions that have arisen since the AI171 tragedy.