The pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) is cautioning against premature conclusions regarding the Air India flight crash on June 12th in Ahmedabad, which resulted in 260 fatalities. Following the release of a preliminary accident investigation report by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) last Friday, several media outlets have suggested the incident was undoubtedly the result of suicide by one of the pilots. However, VC asserts that the report, as currently presented, does not allow for such definitive conclusions.
The union emphasizes that crucial technical and systemic aspects remain unresolved, making it impossible to draw reliable conclusions about the cause of the accident at this stage. A specific point of concern highlighted by VC is the aircraft’s “Fuel Control Switch” which incorporates a locking feature that may not have been functional. This potential malfunction could have facilitated unintended operation. Critically, despite known safety concerns, this component was reportedly neither inspected nor replaced with an improved version by Air India.
“The task of an aircraft accident investigation is to rigorously examine all factors-technical, organizational and human-independently” stated Vivianne Rehaag, a VC board member. “This process requires patience and respect. Preconceived notions do not advance safety; rather, they hinder it”. VC stressed the importance of allowing the full investigation to proceed before drawing conclusions.
