New Delhi [India], July 14: Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson has urged people not to draw “premature conclusions” from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary findings on the AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 260 lives on June 12.
In an internal email to employees, Wilson clarified that the preliminary report found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the Boeing 787-8 aircraft or its engines. He noted that the cause of the crash is still under investigation and no recommendations have yet been made by AAIB.
“The report confirms all mandatory maintenance tasks were completed. There was no fuel quality issue, no take-off abnormality, and both pilots passed their pre-flight breathalyser tests,” Wilson stated.
He reassured staff that all Boeing 787 aircraft in the Air India fleet were inspected shortly after the crash under DGCA oversight and were found to be fit for service. The airline, he said, will continue performing all necessary checks and adhere to any new safety measures recommended by authorities.
Referring to the speculation and media headlines, Wilson asked employees to stay focused on their roles and uphold the airline’s values of integrity, customer focus, excellence, innovation, and teamwork.
“Our top priorities remain supporting the bereaved families and injured, working together as a team, and maintaining a safe, reliable travel experience,” he said.
The AAIB’s preliminary findings revealed that both engines of the aircraft were unintentionally shut off seconds after take-off. The fuel cutoff switches for both engines were moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within one second of each other, leading to an abrupt loss of power.
According to the cockpit voice recorder, one pilot asked the other why he had cut off the engines, to which the latter denied doing so.
Subsequently, the engine switches were moved back to “RUN” within four seconds, but by then, the aircraft had lost altitude and crashed. The incident claimed the lives of 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground.
The final report is still pending as investigations continue. Air India has pledged full cooperation with the AAIB.