Pune: Air India Crash Probe Ongoing, Public Urged Not To Draw Early Conclusions: Murlidhar Mohol, MoS Civil Aviation
Pune: Air India Crash Probe Ongoing, Public Urged Not To Draw Early Conclusions: Murlidhar Mohol, MoS Civil Aviation
New Delhi, July 12, 2025: Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Saturday cautioned against drawing premature conclusions from the preliminary report on the Air India AI 171 crash, calling it “a first step in a detailed investigation.”
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released the 15-page preliminary findings late Friday night, a month after the Ahmedabad-London Gatwick Dreamliner tragedy claimed 260 lives—including 19 on the ground. The minister emphasised that the aviation ministry is not interfering with the probe, which is being conducted independently by the AAIB.
“This is not the final report. The investigation is ongoing, and it would be inappropriate to comment or arrive at conclusions until the final report is out,” Mohol said. He added that the blackbox was secured and decoded domestically, crediting India’s advanced laboratory capabilities for the swift release of the preliminary report.
The AAIB’s initial findings revealed that moments after take-off, the Boeing 787-8’s engine fuel control switches transitioned from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ within seconds of each other. A cockpit voice recording captured one pilot questioning the other about cutting off fuel, with the latter denying it.
Mohol underscored that while these details are significant, they should not be interpreted as definitive causes of the crash. “The final report will provide clarity on what transpired and why,” he stated.
The AI 171 crash is among the deadliest Indian aviation disasters in four decades, leading to national mourning and global scrutiny.
