Premature, Speculative: US Probe Agency Slams Media Reports on AI 171

Calling the media reports "premature and speculative," NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, in a statement, urged the public and media to wait for official findings from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the probe.

"Recent 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 Thursday, and will continue to support its ongoing investigation. All investigative questions should be addressed to the AAIB," Homendy stated.

This came following a public appeal by AAIB on Thursday, which raised concerns over "selective and unverified reporting" by certain international outlets in the aftermath of the crash.

The AAIB, operating under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, reaffirmed that the investigation is being conducted in a "rigorous and most professional manner in accordance with the AAIB Rules and international protocols."

The Bureau cautioned that while the tragedy has "drawn public attention and shock," it 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 appeal came amid heightened global scrutiny following media reports. A Wall Street Journal article, cited by Reuters, suggested cockpit voice recordings indicate that the captain may have turned off the fuel control switches shortly after takeoff, causing confusion and panic in the cockpit.

The AAIB warned against drawing premature conclusions or spreading unverified claims, especially by sections of the international media, which could undermine the credibility of the investigation.

"It is essential to respect the sensitivity of the loss faced by family members of deceased passengers, crew of the aircraft and other deceased persons on the ground. It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. 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 AAIB stated.

The Bureau reiterated that the objective of the investigation and the preliminary report is to state "WHAT happened."

It clarified that it is too early to draw conclusions and the final report, which will detail root causes and recommendations, will be released only after the investigation is complete.

"At this stage, it is too early to reach any definite conclusions. The AAIB investigation is still ongoing. The Final Investigation Report will come out with root causes and recommendations," the letter read.

The AAIB appealed to all concerned to await the final report and assured that updates of technical and public interest will be issued as needed.