The Federation of Indian Pilots has opposed the release of an interim report on the Air India AI-171 crash, calling for a judicial inquiry instead. The pilots' body has raised concerns over the investigation's direction, citing speculation and incomplete findings.
The crash, which occurred on June 12, 2025, killed 260 people, including 19 on the ground, and injured one passenger. The pilots' body has approached the Supreme Court and submitted multiple representations to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, raising concerns over the probe.
Federation president Capt. C.S. Randhawa argued that the investigation should focus on establishing the sequence of events based on complete evidence and improving aviation safety. He questioned the decision to send the aircraft's engines to the United States for analysis and called for a detailed technical examination of the possibility of an electrical disturbance affecting aircraft systems.
The pilots' body has written over 20 letters to authorities, seeking clarity on the investigation and requesting greater involvement of domain experts. Randhawa also questioned the delay in interviewing the sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was interviewed nearly 10 months later.
