Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday, October 7, addressed growing concerns over the investigation into the June 12 Air India Flight AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, which tragically claimed 260 lives.
Minister Naidu emphasized that the ongoing probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is being conducted as “a very clean and very thorough process” in line with established rules and procedures.
His statement comes after allegations from the family of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, one of the pilots on board. Captain Sabharwal’s father, Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, claimed that AAIB officials suggested his son had manipulated the aircraft’s fuel control switches after takeoff – raising questions about the investigation’s impartiality.
Rejecting any suggestion of bias, Minister Naidu stated, “There is no manipulation, or there is no dirty business, happening in the investigation,” reaffirming the government’s confidence in the AAIB’s work.
A notable development highlighted by the minister is the successful decoding of the aircraft’s black box within India, marking the first time such data has been retrieved domestically. Previously, black box data often had to be sent abroad for analysis, making this a “huge success” in India’s aviation safety capabilities.
While a preliminary report has been released, Minister Naidu cautioned against drawing premature conclusions and stressed the importance of awaiting the final report, which will provide comprehensive insights into the causes of the crash.
The government has reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability, as families, the aviation community, and the public await answers to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
