AAIB report found no issues with aircraft or engines: Air India CEO Campbell Wilson

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report on the fatal Ahmedabad air crash involving Air India flight AI171 found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines, Air India managing director and CEO Campbell Wilson wrote to employees in an email to the airline's employees.

“There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the take-off roll. The pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status,” Wilson said, adding that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed.

The AAIB’s preliminary report on the AI171 accident was released in the wee hours on Saturday. It came a month after the tragic crash on June 12 that killed all but one of the 242 people on board and 20 others in a medical college hostel where the aircraft crashed.

“A period in which not a moment has gone by without us thinking of the passengers, friends, colleagues and wider community who were lost or injured. Despite the shared grief, I could not be prouder of the togetherness, compassion and resilience that you have all shown during this challenging time and, most importantly, your care for those affected and for each other,” Wilson wrote.

“The release of the Preliminary Report marked the point at which we, along with the world, began receiving additional details about what took place. Unsurprisingly, it provided both greater clarity and opened additional questions. It also triggered a new round of speculation in the media. Indeed, over the past 30 days, we’ve seen an ongoing cycle of theories, allegations, rumours and sensational headlines, many of which have later been disproven,” the Air India CEO said.

“Instead of focusing on such interpretations, I suggest we note that the Preliminary Report found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines, and that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed,” he added.

“I would also remind that, out of an abundance of caution and under the oversight of the DGCA, every Boeing 787 aircraft operating in our fleet was checked within days of the accident and all were found fit for service. We continue to perform all necessary checks, as we will any new ones that authorities may suggest,” said Wilson.

“The preliminary report identified no cause nor made any recommendations, so I urge everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over. We will continue to co-operate with the investigators to ensure they have everything they need to conduct a thorough and comprehensive enquiry,” he said.

“Until a final report or cause is tabled there will no doubt be new rounds of speculation and more sensational headlines. We must nevertheless remain focused on our task and be true to the values that have powered Air India’s transformation journey over the past three years – integrity, excellence, customer focus, innovation and teamwork. Let us not be diverted from what are our top priorities: standing by the bereaved and those injured, working together as a team, and delivering a safe and reliable air travel experience to our customers around the world,” Wilson wrote.