Air India CEO Campbell Wilson has come out strongly against the wild media frenzy and speculation that has followed the AI171 crash. In a firm communication to the airline’s employees, Wilson highlighted that the preliminary report into the disaster clearly found no mechanical or maintenance issue with the aircraft or its engines.
“Instead of focusing on such interpretations, I suggest we note that the Preliminary Report found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines, and that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed. There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the take-off roll,” he was quoted as saying.
His remarks follow the release of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) initial findings, which dropped earlier this week, and come in direct response to the barrage of rumours and theories that have been swirling since the incident.
According to reports, Wilson was clear in urging the airline’s workforce to rise above the noise: “Until a final report or cause is tabled, there will no doubt be new rounds of speculation and more sensational headlines. We must nevertheless remain focused on our task and be true to the values that have powered Air India’s transformation journey over the past three years – integrity, excellence, customer focus, innovation, and teamwork.”
Further reaffirming the airline’s diligence, he said that every Boeing 787 aircraft in Air India’s fleet was thoroughly inspected within days of the crash, and all were deemed fit for continued service.
He also added that both pilots had cleared their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser tests, with no medical issues observed by authorities—debunking yet another line of public conjecture.
Despite the public outcry and rampant media spin, Wilson said the AAIB’s findings are preliminary. “The report identified no cause nor made any recommendations,” he clarified, urging his staff to “stop drawing premature conclusions” and underlining Air India’s full cooperation with ongoing investigations.
Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu also cautioned that one must wait for the final report before jumping to conclusions.
Also Read: AI 171 Crash Investigation: Pilot Associations Lash Out At Reckless Pilot Suicide Theories https://www.vibesofindia.com/ai-171-crash-investigation-pilot-associations-lash-out-at-reckless-pilot-suicide-theories/
