News Desk
19 July 2025, 10:35 AM IST
NTSB slams speculative media over Air India 171 crash; urges public to await final report.
Washington: The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigates aviation accidents and key transport events, issued a sharp statement on Friday (local time), condemning what it called “premature and speculative” media coverage surrounding the preliminary report into the Air India 171 crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which claimed over 260 lives last month.
‘Support the AAIB, not speculation’: NTSB
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy emphasised that official findings must come from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the probe.
“Recent media reports on the Air India 171 crash are premature and speculative. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau just released its preliminary report. Investigations of this magnitude take time. We fully support the AAIB’s public appeal, which was released Thursday, and will continue to support its ongoing investigation. All investigative questions should be addressed to the AAIB,” she stated.
AAIB flags unverified reporting
The statement follows a Thursday appeal from the AAIB, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, cautioning the public and media against “selective and unverified reporting” by certain international media outlets.
The AAIB reiterated that the investigation is being carried out in a “rigorous and most professional manner in accordance with the AAIB Rules and international protocols.”
The Bureau acknowledged the public shock surrounding the tragedy, but said this is not the time to “create public anxiety or angst towards the safety of the Indian Aviation Industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts.”
Report raises fuel switch theory
International scrutiny intensified following a Wall Street Journal report, cited by Reuters, which suggested that cockpit voice recordings indicated the captain may have turned off the fuel control switches shortly after takeoff—causing panic in the cockpit.
In response, the AAIB reiterated that premature conclusions could jeopardise the integrity of the investigation.
“It is essential to respect the sensitivity of the loss faced by family members of deceased passengers, crew of the aircraft and other deceased persons on the ground,” the Bureau said. “It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing.”
Final conclusions still awaited
The AAIB underlined that the preliminary report aims only to outline “WHAT happened.”
It added: “At this stage, it is too early to reach any definite conclusions. The Final Investigation Report will come out with root causes and recommendations.”
It appealed to all stakeholders to await the final report and promised further updates “as and when required,” especially those serving technical and public interest.
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