Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has written to Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, demanding a formal inquiry into how sensitive details from the preliminary investigation report of the Air India AI171 crash were allegedly leaked to international media outlets before being officially released in India.
What’s the Issue?
Chaturvedi raised concerns after reports of the June 13 crash—which killed 260 people, including 241 onboard—appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal before Indian stakeholders or the public were informed. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had released a preliminary 15-page report on Saturday, but there was no public briefing or transparent communication.
“It is deeply troubling that sensitive details were available to foreign news agencies before any official release in India,” Chaturvedi wrote.
What Did She Demand?
In her letter, Chaturvedi called for:
- A probe into the leak of the report contents to international media
- Disclosure of all investigation panel members’ names
- Signatures of panel members on interim reports for accountability
- Inclusion of experienced aviators in all investigative stages
- Media guidelines on reporting interim findings from sensitive aviation probes
- Transparency in the release process of such reports
“The lack of transparency gives rise to legitimate concerns about whose interests are being served,” she noted.
Concerns About Pilot Reputation
Chaturvedi strongly condemned what she called “motivated speculation” and selective leaks implicating the deceased pilots.
“Such insinuations are reprehensible. The pilots are not alive to defend themselves, and even pilot associations have voiced their concerns,” she said.
The Airlines Pilots Association of India also disputed the AAIB report, calling it biased, rushed, and shrouded in secrecy.
What the Preliminary Report Found
- Fuel control switches on both engines moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within one second, causing the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to crash shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London Gatwick.
- A cockpit voice recording revealed one pilot asking, “Why did you cut the fuel?” with the other replying, “I didn’t.”
- The report did not conclude a definitive cause and found no mechanical fault in the aircraft, pointing instead to possible pilot error.
- Pilots were not identified, and no explicit blame was assigned.
Broader Concerns
Chaturvedi warned that such incidents, if mishandled, can affect:
- Public trust in aviation safety bodies
- Morale of pilots and crew
- India’s global aviation image
She emphasized that critical investigations must be handled with technical integrity, transparent processes, and respect for those involved.