Aviation Minister Assures Transparency in Air India Crash Investigation: "No Manipulation" in Probe of Tragedy That Killed 260

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu firmly stated on Tuesday that there is "no manipulation or dirty business" occurring in the investigation of the devastating Air India plane crash that claimed 260 lives on June 12.

His statement addresses concerns raised by various parties regarding the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) probe into the fatal incident.

Naidu emphasized that everyone must await the AAIB's final investigation report to understand the precise circumstances of the crash.

"There is no manipulation, or there is no dirty business, happening in the investigation. It is a very clean and very thorough process that we are doing according to the rules," the minister assured.

He also indicated that the final AAIB report would take additional time, adding, "We don't want to pressure them into coming up with some hasty report." These comments were made during a book launch event in New Delhi.

The crash, one of India's worst aviation disasters, occurred when Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating flight AI171 to London Gatwick crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad on June 12, resulting in the deaths of 260 individuals, including 241 passengers.

In its preliminary findings released on July 12, the AAIB reported that fuel supply to both engines was cut off within a one-second interval, causing confusion in the cockpit immediately after takeoff.

"In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cut off. The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the preliminary report stated.

On September 22, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), representing approximately 5,500 pilots, urged the government to initiate a judicial investigation into the crash, claiming that the ongoing investigation is "compromised" and should be halted.

Earlier, on August 29, Pushkaraj Sabharwal, the 91-year-old father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal who piloted the ill-fated aircraft, demanded a 'formal investigation' by the central government.

In his letter to civil aviation officials, Pushkaraj expressed concern that selective information leaks had led to speculation that his son was under psychological pressure and possibly contemplating suicide.

"These innuendos have very adversely affected my health and mental setup, and the reputation of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal. They tarnish Captain Sabharwal's reputation, which is a fundamental right guaranteed to a citizen of India under Article 21 of the Constitution of India," his letter stated.

He requested that the central government order a formal inquiry into the accident under Rule 12 of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017.

On September 22, the Supreme Court described the selective publication of the preliminary crash report as "unfortunate and irresponsible," noting that it highlighted pilot errors and contributed to a potentially misleading "media narrative."