In a strongly worded appeal, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India has condemned “selective and unverified reporting” by sections of the international media, particularly following a report by The Wall Street Journal that alleged the captain of the ill-fated Air India B787-8 aircraft VT-ANB manually switched off fuel flow to both engines during takeoff.
The AAIB stated that such speculative conclusions are premature, misleading, and “risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process,” especially when the investigation into the June 12 crash, which killed 260 people, is still ongoing. The crash, which is one of the worst in India’s recent aviation history, has triggered global attention and media scrutiny, some of which the AAIB decried as “irresponsible.”
Without directly naming The Wall Street Journal, the AAIB statement, issued Thursday morning, indirectly addressed the report that emerged just hours earlier. The report suggested, based on unnamed sources, that pilot error was to blame and that fuel valves were manually closed mid-takeoff, a claim that the Indian aviation regulator believes to be speculative and damaging.
The statement, signed by GVG Yugandhar, Director General of the AAIB, emphasised that the bureau operates under strict international protocols aligned with ICAO Annex 13 and has maintained a flawless record since its inception in 2012, having investigated 92 accidents and 111 serious incidents.
“Certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible,” the AAIB said, urging the public and the press to “refrain from spreading premature narratives.”
BREAKING: Statement from Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB): pic.twitter.com/RcM9IQOBMw
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The AAIB further clarified that the purpose of its ongoing investigation and preliminary reports is to determine “what” happened and that the final conclusions will only be drawn after thorough analysis, root cause determination, and technical validation. The bureau emphasized that the final investigation report will be released only after the complete inquiry is concluded.
In a pointed rebuke to sensationalist coverage, the AAIB stressed that now is “not the time to create public anxiety or angst towards the safety of the Indian Aviation Industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts.”
The statement is being seen as a direct pushback against global media attempts to frame a narrative before the facts are fully known. The AAIB’s statement echoes a warning that half-baked information not only disrespects the deceased and their families but also endangers global cooperation in aviation safety investigations.
The AAIB confirmed that updates will be released as and when required, especially where there is technical or public interest, but urged all parties to await the final report before drawing any conclusions.
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