‘No fault in Air India ops’: CEO Campbell Wilson breaks silence on AI-171 crash and probe

Preliminary AAIB report finds “no fault” in Air India’s operations; final probe to determine if technical or human error caused the tragedy.

Air India Managing Director and CEO Campbell Wilson said that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB’s) preliminary findings on the AI-171 crash have not found any lapse in the airline’s operations or practices, though the company continues to introspect and cooperate with investigators.

“Anything that happens in the industry, whether that’s us or others, is a cause for introspection and review,” Wilson said at the Aviation India 2025 summit in New Delhi. “The interim report indicated there was nothing wrong with the aircraft, engines, or practices that required changing. But of course, we’re always looking at how we can keep improving, keep getting better, and keep learning.”

On June 12, Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, operating from Ahmedabad to London, crashed into a college building shortly after take-off. The disaster killed 241 people on board, leaving only one survivor.

“This is really the first public engagement we’ve done in India since that tragic day,” Wilson said. “It was absolutely devastating, for the people involved, their families, and for everyone at Air India.”

The AAIB’s preliminary report, released on July 12, revealed that fuel supply to both engines was cut off shortly after take-off when two fuel control switches were moved to the “cut-off” position in quick succession.

Though they were turned back on within about ten seconds, the engines had already flamed out.

Investigators noted that one pilot asked the other why the switches had been moved, to which the other reportedly denied doing so. The report did not identify the crew members involved.

The AAIB also said it was not ruling out technical faults and had involved aviation medicine and psychology experts in the ongoing probe to study human-factor aspects.

Wilson said the airline has been working continuously to support those affected. “We’ve had more than 600 people on the ground in Ahmedabad,” he said. “We’ve set up a trust through Tata Sons to help affected families. Interim compensation has been completed, and work is on for the final settlement.”

He added that both Air India and Tata Sons are committed “to doing absolutely everything it takes, for as long as it takes, to bring closure to those affected.”

In the months following the accident, Air India voluntarily reduced its international wide-body operations by about 15 percent to give crews more time for additional safety inspections and mental decompression.

“For the three months after the accident, we deliberately introduced extra checks,” Wilson explained. “That was partly voluntary and partly a regulatory caution. Over time, operations have gradually returned to normal levels.”

While reaffirming that the preliminary findings show no operational fault, Wilson said the airline will await the final report to draw lessons from it.

“We’re not involved in the investigation directly, it’s run by the government. But if there’s anything to learn from the final report, we’ll ensure that we do,” he said.