US Safety Board: Air India Crash Reports “Premature And Speculative”

NEW DELHI (IANS)- The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has criticized recent media reports on the Air India Ahmedabad crash as “premature and speculative.” The NTSB is urging the media and public to await the final report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, which is leading the inquiry into the fatal incident.

The NTSB is the US federal agency responsible for investigating aviation and major transportation incidents. Its chairwoman Jennifer Homendy asserted that current 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 July 17, and will continue to support its ongoing investigation,” Homendy posted, emphasizing that all investigative questions should be directed to the AAIB. 

The Wall Street Journal had reported that a cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the ill-fated Air India flight, which crashed last month, allegedly indicated the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane’s engines.

“It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting,” the AAIB stated. “Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing. We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process,” the Indian probe agency added.