Air india flight crash: The speculation of ‘pilot suicide’ intensified after the initial report of the AI 171 aircraft accident became public. The India Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) has reacted strongly to these speculations and described them as ‘baseless and irresponsible allegations’.
There was only one sentence in the report
In the preliminary report released on Saturday, the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder was not shared, but there was a line in the report-‘A pilot asks the other why he did the fuel cutoff? The second pilot replied that he did not do so.
Both engines closed in three seconds
According to the report, three seconds after flying from Ahmedabad on 12 June, Fuel supply of both engines of Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI 171) going to London was cut off. The reason was told that the fuel cutoff switches of the engine 1 and 2 turned from ‘run’ to ‘cutoff’ position, that too at an interval of one second.
ICPA told speculation ‘serious allegations’
ICPA, which is an organization of pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines, said in a statement released on Sunday- ‘We are extremely upset with these speculation, especially from that irresponsible and baseless estimate that indicates the pilot suicide. At this stage there is no basis for any such claim and making such serious allegations on incomplete information is not only irresponsible, but is also extremely insensitive to those families.
Pilots get mental and professional training
In the statement, ICPA also underlined the mental and professional investigation of the pilots and said- ‘Pilots have to go through intensive psychological and professional screening. They take regular training and work under the highest security standards. In this way, allegation of suicide is not only a violation of moral journalism but is also against the dignity of the profession.
The investigation process should be respected
The ICPA said that they rely on the processes of competent investigative agencies and until the investigation is completed, it is ‘unacceptable and condemnable’ to spread such serious rumors.
Crew did his duty, they need support
At the end of the statement, it was said- ‘AI 171 crew worked in difficult circumstances in line with their training and responsibilities. They should be supported and not to be tarnished on the basis of unnecessary speculation.