Now, International Federation of Pilots also says AI 171 report 'raises questions, provides no answers'

NEW DELHI: The preliminary report into the crash of the June 12 Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad continues to draw flak. Now, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations ( IFALPA ) has warned against coming to "hasty conclusions". The report, whose details were known to a section of the western media 44 hours before the same was made public in by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in India, has led to a suicide theory being propounded that has been slammed by pilots and other aviation experts.

"Whilst this preliminary report by its very nature raises many questions, it does not provide answers, and any extrapolation of its content can only be regarded as guesswork, which is not helpful to the good conduct of the investigation. IFALPA also notes that the report clearly states that no safety recommendations are being provided at this stage," IFALPA said after reviewing the report.

"The victims, including the families of the crew and passengers of Air India 171, deserve our collective
professionalism while the full investigation is conducted," it adds.

Before IFALPA, the India Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) had slammed the "reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide" that has been doing the rounds after the preliminary report into AI 171 crash was made public on Saturday. While not sharing the cockpit voice recorder transcript, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report had this one line: "One of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so."

ICPA, which is the union of erstwhile Indian Airlines, said in a statement issued Sunday: "We are deeply disturbed by speculative narratives, particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide. Let us be unequivocally clear: there is absolutely no basis for such a claim at this stage, and invoking such a serious allegation based on incomplete or preliminary information is not only irresponsible-it is deeply insensitive to the individuals and families involved."

Expressing their "unwavering support for the flight crew of Air India flight Al 171," the ICPA statement added: "Pilots undergo extensive psychological and professional screening, recurrent training, and operate under the highest standards of safety, responsibility, and mental fitness. To casually suggest pilot suicide in the absence of verified evidence is a gross violation of ethical reporting and a disservice to the dignity of the profession."

"As aviation professionals, we trust and respect the rigorous investigative protocols established by competent authorities. These inquiries are designed to uncover facts methodically and without bias. Until the official investigation is concluded and the final report is published, any speculation-especially of such a grave nature-is unacceptable and must be condemned.... The crew of Al 171 acted in line with their training and responsibilities under challenging conditions. They deserve support-not vilification based on conjecture," it said.