AI171 Crash: Air India CEO Campbell Wilson Says No Technical Fault, Urges Patience as Probe Continues

AI171 Crash Was Not Caused by Technical Failure, Says Air India CEO Campbell Wilson Amid Ongoing Investigation

A month after the crash, the answer remains unclear about what brought Air India’s AI171 down. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has rejected speculations of technical failure. In an employee note, he wrote that the initial investigation revealed nothing wrong with the aircraft, engines, or fuel quality.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) issued its preliminary report last week. It confirmed that the fuel supply switches were ruptured after take-off, which caused both engines to shut down. A restart was tried, but it didn’t work.

The Boeing 787 carrying passengers to London crashed shortly after it had taken off from Mumbai on June 12. All 241 individuals on board were killed. Another 30 individuals were killed on the ground. Wilson explained that all of the necessary maintenance procedures had been performed before flight. He further stated that the pilots were passing their breathalyser tests and didn’t have any health issues.

Don’t Jump to Conclusions, Says CEO

Wilson requested the staff not to be diverted by speculation in the media. “The report did not find any mechanical or maintenance fault,” he stated. “Until the ultimate cause is determined, there will be further speculation. We must remain focused and keep serving with integrity.”

The AAIB has not determined the cause or issued recommendations yet. The Union Aviation Ministry has also stated that the probe continues.

Pilots’ Body, Ministry Call for Greater Clarity

The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association stated the report fails to indicate who was making major decisions in the cockpit. Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu also cautioned against premature conclusions, emphasizing that these are only preliminary results.

All Air India Dreamliners Inspected

After the crash, Air India had its entire Boeing 787 fleet inspected. All planes were cleared for flight within days. Experts have said that dual-engine shutdown during take-off is extremely rare. Passenger aircraft are designed to fly even with a failed engine. A complete engine loss at that point can be deadly.

Safety Questions for Global Aviation

Today’s jets are constructed with multiple measures to prevent such failures. But as aircraft designs change to improve fuel efficiency and emission targets, new weaknesses can arise.

The last AAIB report comes later this year. It might be the catalyst for changes in training, fuel system design, or cockpit procedures. Until then, the emphasis is on discovering what caused both engines to fail in one of India’s deadliest air disasters.

Mystery over AI171’s crash persists. As of now, the facts indicate this wasn’t a failure of the machine. Many are speculating that the answer lies deeper.