The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), a German pilots’ union, has cautioned against premature conclusions regarding the Air India flight crash on June 12th in Ahmedabad, India, which resulted in 260 fatalities. Following the release of a preliminary investigation report by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau last Friday, several media outlets have speculated that the incident involved suicide by one of the pilots.
However, the VC asserts that the currently available report does not definitively support this assertion. The union highlights that key technical and systemic aspects remain unresolved, making it premature to draw firm conclusions about the cause of the accident.
Specifically, the VC points to the aircraft’s fuel control switch, which incorporates a “locking feature” that may have been compromised. The union notes that this component, known to present potential safety concerns, was neither inspected nor replaced with an enhanced version by Air India.
“The task of an aircraft accident investigation is to thoroughly examine all factors – technical, organizational and human – independently” stated Vivianne Rehaag, a VC board member. “It is essential to allow this process to unfold and to respect it. Preconceived notions do not aid safety; on the contrary, they can be detrimental”. The union stresses the importance of a comprehensive and impartial investigation to determine the root causes of the tragedy.