Indian pilots' union seeks observer role in Air India flight AI 171 crash investigation, objects to investigation being driven presuming the guilt of pilots

The Air India plane crashed near the Ahmedabad airport just after take off on June 12.

The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA) on July 12 raised concerns around the direction of the initial investigation into the Air India flight AI 171 crash, saying it seems to assume that the pilots are to blame.

"We feel that the investigation is being driven in a direction presuming the guilt of pilots and we strongly object to this line of thought," ALPA president Sam Thomas said in a statement on July 12, while urging the government to include it as an observer in the investigation into the Air India AI-171 crash.

The union asked authorities to allow it to join the process to help ensure transparency.

"We once again request the powers that be to include us even in the capacity of observers so as to provide the requisite transparency in the investigations," the statement said.

The plea comes after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report on the incident on July 12, 2025.

ALPA India President Captain Sam Thomas has raised concerns that while the pilots' union has reviewed the preliminary report released by the AAIB and the regulator had shared the preliminary report with the media, while keeping pilots in the dark.

"We are once again surprised at the secrecy surrounding these investigations," Thomas said.

ALPA also cited a Wall Street Journal article dated July 10, which claimed the crash was linked to the inadvertent movement of engine fuel control switches. The association questioned how this sensitive detail reached the press.

"We are surprised that a document so crucial has been given to the media without any responsible person signing it. In the wake of the aforementioned points, we once again request the powers that be to include us even in the capacity of observers so as to provide the requisite transparency in the investigations," it said.

Calling the situation deeply troubling, ALPA criticised the AAIB for releasing documents without official signatures and called for immediate reform.

"We request the powers that be to include us, even in the capacity of observers, to ensure transparency," the association said.

Following the release of the preliminary report, Air India's Senior Vice President - Flight Operations Captain Manish Uppal also wrote an internal letter to Air India employees requesting Air India colleagues to bring forward questions and discuss them with him and Captain Pankul Mathur.

"We are committed to maintain open communication and provide clarity, wherever possible," Uppal wrote in his letter dated July 12.

He also urged pilots to look out for each other and highlighted that support resources are available flying crew through peer support program and company psychologists.

"It is also time to look out for each other. The emotional effect of such an event is real, and it is okay to feel a series of emotions - abbreviation, sorrow and even anger," Uppal said.

He also said that Air India will organize a dedicated session in the coming days to review the report together.

"As pilots, we are trained to stay under pressure, to continuously learn, and to act decisively when it matters most. Let us apply the same now. Together, we will reflect, react and rise more than before," Uppal wrote.