Incomplete Air India Report Sparks Controversy and Unanswered Questions
The preliminary report on the Air India Flight 171 crash, which occurred on July 14, 2025, has been released, shedding light on the events leading up to the disaster. However, concerns about transparency have arisen due to the absence of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcript in the report.
According to the report, both fuel control switches were manually moved to the CUTOFF position just seconds after liftoff, leading to a loss of engine thrust. The aircraft's systems attempted to recover and stabilize flight after the engines were cut.
The report does not attribute cockpit dialogue to either the captain or first officer, and the CVR transcript, which could provide valuable insights into the pilots' actions and conversations during the final moments of the flight, is missing from the report. Analysts believe the first officer was the pilot flying (PF), which would have made the captain-the pilot monitoring (PM)-the only one with free hands to manually operate the fuel control switches.
The preliminary report typically provides only limited factual information without speculation or detailed analysis, and deeper or complete CVR transcripts are withheld pending a complete investigation. The ongoing investigation has not drawn any conclusions regarding the cause of the crash, and releasing the full transcript prematurely could fuel speculation or misinterpretation.
The cockpit voice excerpt that is public highlights confusion between the pilots but does not attribute voices specifically or explain the exact cause of the fuel cutoff switch movements, suggesting sensitive or incomplete information is being carefully managed. The transcript involves potentially controversial content that has led to public speculation of intentional pilot actions, which Indian pilot associations have cautioned against until the investigation is complete.
The report does not address whether weight inaccuracies, performance miscalculations, or improper configuration played a role in the extended takeoff. The takeoff roll was unusually long, consuming a large portion of the runway before the aircraft became airborne. The data shows a methodical relight sequence beginning around 08:08:52 UTC, suggesting the aircraft's systems were attempting to recover and stabilize flight. The aircraft reached a maximum speed of 180 knots before both engines were cut, indicating stable flight conditions prior to the failure.
The timing of the report's release at 1am local time was informal and unusual for government departments in India. Aviation experts and safety analysts argue that releasing the CVR transcript is essential to understanding cockpit decision-making during the final moments of the flight. The full and complete report is expected in 11 months.
The Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system's role in the incident is not addressed in the report. The crash of Air India Flight 171 was the deadliest aviation disaster in over a decade, and the investigation into its cause continues.
- The lack of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) transcript in the preliminary report has sparked debate within the aviation industry and general-news circles, with some calling for its release to shed light on the pilots' actions and conversations during Air India Flight 171's final moments.
- Financing and transportation sectors are closely monitoring the ongoing investigation of the Air India Flight 171 crash, hoping to glean insights that may impact safety protocols in airline news and the broader aviation industry.
- Accusations of pilot negligence have been raised following the release of limited cockpit voice excerpts and the absence of the full CVR transcript, potentially bringing unwanted attention to the aviation industry and leading to concerns about the safety of commercial flights.
