‘Don’t jump to any conclusion’: Civil aviation minister reacts to AI 171 crash probe report; calls it ‘preliminary’ | India News

NEW DELHI: Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Saturday said that the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into the Air India Flight 171 crash is not the final assessment of the incident. The investigation remains ongoing, the ministry said.“This is a preliminary report. At the ministry, we are analysing it… We are coordinating with AAIB for any support they need. We are hoping that the final reports come out soon so that we can arrive at some conclusion,” Naidu told reporters.He also expressed confidence in aviation personnel, adding, “I truly believe we have the most wonderful workforce in terms of pilots and the crew in the whole world. Pilots and crew are the backbone of the aviation industry.”Minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol echoed the same view, telling ANI: “The AAIB has brought out a preliminary report. This is not the final report. Until the final report comes out, we should not arrive at any conclusion. AAIB is an autonomous authority, and the ministry does not interfere in their work.”Earlier in the day, the AAIB released its 15-page preliminary report on the deadly crash involving Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London Gatwick.The aircraft crashed seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, ploughing into a medical hostel complex near the airport. Of the 241 people onboard, only one passenger survived.The report outlined a series of critical events, including mid-air fuel cutoffs to both engines, confusion between pilots in the cockpit, and failed recovery attempts, shedding light on what may have triggered one of the deadliest aviation accidents in India in recent decades.The AAIB said further analysis, component testing, and forensic examination are under way before a final conclusion is drawn.