CEO of Air India Shares His Observation After Release of Preliminary Investigation About Crash

• A preliminary investigation into last month’s deadly Air India crash has heightened public concern, revealing cockpit confusion moments before the fatal descent
• The AAIB report confirmed no mechanical faults or maintenance issues, but offered no definitive cause, fuel cutoff remains an unresolved mystery
• As scrutiny intensifies, calls grow for a fair and transparent inquiry, with aviation experts urging patience as the investigation continues

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A preliminary investigation into last month’s fatal Air India crash, which claimed 260 lives, has intensified scrutiny around the incident, sparking media speculation and prompting renewed calls for a comprehensive inquiry.

According to a staff memo reviewed by Reuters, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson acknowledged on Monday that the report issued by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) “triggered a new round of speculation in the media.”

Wilson remarked that while the findings offered “greater clarity,” they simultaneously “opened additional questions.”

The AAIB released its initial findings on Saturday, revealing cockpit confusion shortly before the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plunged shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, en route to London. All but one of the 242 people aboard perished, alongside 19 individuals on the ground.

No faults found yet

The preliminary AAIB report stated there were no indications of mechanical or maintenance failure, and all mandatory maintenance had been completed. However, the cockpit voice recorder captured a chilling exchange, with one pilot asking the other why the fuel had been cut off.

“The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” the report noted. Both engine two fuel cutoff switches were found to have flipped nearly simultaneously, though the cause remains undetermined.

Despite this revelation, the report recommended no immediate action for aircraft manufacturer Boeing or engine supplier.

Pilots’ experience underlines ALPA’s call for fair inquiry

Air India’s commanding pilot, 56-year-old Sumeet Sabharwal, had logged 15,638 flight hours and also served as an instructor. His co-pilot, Clive Kunder, 32, had 3,403 hours of flying experience. The memo confirmed both pilots passed mandatory pre-flight breathalyser tests and showed no medical irregularities.

In a statement, ALPA India, representing Indian pilots within the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations, rejected any early assumptions of pilot error. The group called for a “fair, fact-based inquiry” to determine the actual cause of the crash.

Air India faces broader scrutiny after crash

Beyond the crash probe, Air India has been facing increasing regulatory pressure. On 4 July, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) initiated an investigation into budget arm Air India Express.

This followed a Reuters exposé revealing the airline’s delay in replacing critical engine parts on an Airbus A320 and the alleged falsification of compliance records.

CEO Campbell Wilson cautioned against drawing conclusions prematurely, emphasising, “The preliminary report identified no cause nor made any recommendations, so I urge everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over.”

Flight safety often threatened by human factors - Engineer

Aerospace engineer and innovation expert, Dr Regnault Umaru Bamiji, has weighed in on the preliminary findings surrounding the recent Air India Express crash, pointing out that beyond mechanical checks, the human element in aviation remains critical.

"The broader issue, however, is not just technical," Dr Bamiji told Legit.ng.

"Takeoff remains one of aviation’s most sensitive moments, where small misconfigurations or distractions can lead to severe outcomes."

He explained that although modern aircraft are equipped with systems like configuration warnings and automated checks, these are not always foolproof when human limitations come into play.

"While aircraft today include safeguards like configuration warnings and automated checks, these systems often fail to account for the human side of the equation: fatigue, stress, and split-second decisions," he added.

Officials submit report on what caused the plane crash

Legit.ng earlier reported that a preliminary report into the fatal crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner is expected to be published by Friday, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

The probe has narrowed its focus to the aircraft’s engine fuel control switches, following extensive data analysis.

The London-bound Dreamliner tragically lost altitude just after takeoff from Ahmedabad on 12 June, crashing at only 650 feet and killing 241 of the 242 passengers onboard, along with others on the ground.

Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from an aerospace engineer for this report.