New Delhi: Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday, July 21, urged restraint amid speculations over the cause of the June 12 Air India crash that killed 274 people, including 19 on the ground.
Addressing the Parliament, he criticised foreign publications for “promoting their own viewpoint” and added that only a full investigation would reveal the truth.
Have a look at his entire statement here:
Facts Over Theories
“There are multiple theories floating… but let us respect the process of investigation,” Naidu said in the Lok Sabha, adding that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting its inquiry in a “transparent manner”.
Without naming specific outlets, he pointed to a series of reports, particularly from the Western press, that have speculated on the cause of the crash. “We are seeing this through facts. We want to stand by the truth,” the Minister said, adding that conclusions must wait until the final report is released.
This comes amid heightened scrutiny after a preliminary AAIB report suggested that the aircraft’s two fuel control switches moved from ‘RUN’ to ‘CUTOFF’ within a second of each other, effectively cutting off engine power moments after take-off.
Pilot Blame Narrative Sparks Backlash
A Wall Street Journal report claiming cockpit voice recordings captured the co-pilot questioning the captain’s actions, and the captain allegedly denying moving the switches, has been sharply criticised. The AAIB last week denounced such coverage as “selective”, “unverified”, and “irresponsible”.
Responding in disapproval, the AAIB said these media reports “risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process”. The US National Transportation Safety Board, which is assisting the probe, also flagged some reports as “premature” and “speculative”.
The switches in question are spring-loaded and require deliberate movement, a design which is specifically meant to prevent accidental toggle. Following the incident, all Indian operators of Boeing jets were instructed to check their aircraft. Air India has since confirmed no irregularities were found in its fleet.
