Air India Plane Crash: 'We cannot say anything definite at this point,' says Minister Murlidhar Mohol on AAIB's preliminary report

Responding to the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into the deadly Air India flight AI 171 crash, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Saturday said that the findings are still in early stages and “nothing definite” can be concluded at this point.

Speaking to IANS in Pune, Mohol said, “This is just the preliminary report. I believe further investigation is still underway. It would not be appropriate to make any conclusive statements until the final report is released.”

AAIB report reveals fuel cut-off, cockpit confusion

The AAIB report, released earlier in the day, revealed that both fuel control switches supplying fuel to the engines were turned off seconds after take-off, leading to complete engine shutdown. The incident, involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner that crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad on June 12, was caught on the cockpit voice recorder. It captured one pilot questioning the other on why the fuel was cut off, only to be told, “I did not.”

India now equipped with in-country black box analysis

Reacting to the findings, Mohol said the AAIB has done commendable work so far. “Earlier, we had to send black boxes abroad for analysis. Today, India has its own facilities for such investigations, which reflects how far we have come in aviation safety,” he said.

He also reiterated that all possible causes, including sabotage, are being examined. “It is being probed from every angle. CCTV footage is being reviewed and multiple agencies are involved. This is a rare and serious case,” the minister had said earlier.

Experts urge caution, call for full investigation

Aviation expert Mark Martin also cautioned against early assumptions, noting that it is “highly unlikely” a pilot would knowingly tamper with fuel switches during take-off. “These are not controls you’d normally interact with during that phase of flight. Pilots would typically be focused on flaps or the landing gear, not fuel shutoffs,” he said, adding that a comprehensive investigation is necessary before drawing any conclusions.

Mohol echoed that sentiment: “Their work is still ongoing. Once the final report is released, it will be appropriate to comment.”