Air India crash: Pilots' body writes to MoCA seeking judicial probe; alleges officials rushing for 'pilot error' narrative

NEW DELHI: The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has written a letter to the Ministry of Civil Aviation demanding a judicial probe into the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI 171, alleging that the officials are prematurely pushing a "pilot error" narrative.In its letter to the civil aviation minister, dated September 22, the FIP said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had "fundamentally and irrevocably compromised the integrity, impartiality, and legality of the ongoing investigation."The FIP alleged that the AAIB's conduct has "moved beyond mere procedural irregularity into the realm of manifest bias and unlawful action. This has rendered the current investigation untenable, and its potential findings are likely to affect the morale of the pilots."The federation alleged that AAIB officials visited the residence of Capt. Sabharwal’s 91-year-old father on August 30 “under the pretext of offering condolences” but instead made “damaging insinuations”. "During this interaction, these officials made damaging 'insinuations' based on a 'selective CVR interpretation and a so-called 'layered voice analysis,' suggesting that Capt. Sabharwal had deliberately moved the fuel control switches to the CUTOFF position post-take-off," the pilot body added.Calling the move “professionally indefensible,” the FIP accused AAIB of breaching rules by leaking protected CVR details to the media. Under Rule 17(5) of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, disclosure of cockpit voice recordings is strictly prohibited. The leaks, FIP said, had led to the “character assassination of a decorated professional” with a three-decade career and over 15,000 flying hours.The pilots’ body further stressed that accident probes are meant to prevent future tragedies, not apportion blame, as per Rule 3 of the 2017 Rules.The letter said the probe "contravenes the spirit and letter of ICAO Annex 13, which obligates member states to conduct independent and impartial investigations.”FIP argued that the flawed handling of the AI 171 probe risks damaging India’s credibility in the global aviation community. Urging immediate intervention, the federation added, "The FIP submits that the circumstances surrounding the AI 171 investigation make the constitution of a Court of Inquiry not merely 'expedient,' but an absolute and urgent necessity."Drawing parallels with the 2010 Mangalore crash of Air India Express Flight 812—where a Court of Inquiry was set up—the federation said the present case, with even greater loss of life, warranted no less.It has urged the government to constitute a Court of Inquiry led by a retired Supreme Court judge, supported by independent experts in flight operations, aircraft maintenance, avionics, and human factors."The Federation of Indian Pilots, and the entire professional pilot community it represents, has a solemn and non-negotiable duty to the victims of Flight AI 171, to their grieving families, and to the future safety of the travelling public," the letter concluded.