Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has firmly denied claims that the preliminary report on the Air India crash was biased. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, he criticised Western media for pushing what he described as their own narrative and urged both the public and media to wait for the final investigation report before drawing any conclusions. Naidu emphasised that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is carrying out the probe in a transparent and fact-based manner.
“I’ve seen several articles—not only from Indian media but also from Western media—trying to promote their own viewpoints,” Naidu said, addressing the House amid loud protests from the opposition benches. He reiterated the government’s commitment to uncovering the truth through a proper investigation, stating, “We want to stand by the truth, and that will only be revealed when the investigation is complete.”
Soon after Naidu’s remarks, Congress MPs staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha, demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and also raising concerns over former US President Donald Trump’s claims about brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
The preliminary report into the Air India crash, which claimed 260 lives, revealed that just three seconds after takeoff from Ahmedabad, fuel supply to both engines of AI 171 was cut off. However, the report does not clarify whether the shift in the fuel control switches—responsible for regulating fuel to the engines—was accidental or deliberate. According to the report, one of the pilots questioned the other about the fuel cut-off, asking why it had been done, to which the second pilot replied that he had not done it.
The full transcript of the cockpit conversation has not yet been released, giving rise to widespread speculation on social media. According to international media house Wall Street Journal report that quoted US authorities' evaluations, the black box data suggested the captain might have disabled the fuel management controls. The public conversation surrounding the crash has become even more heated as a result of these allegations.
Naidu emphasised that the inquiry must be based on facts rather than conjecture, regardless of the theories. He promised the House that after the AAIB finished its exhaustive and unbiased investigation, the truth will be made public.
Also Read: Aviation minister slams west's ‘vested’ Air India crash coverage
Follow us
