Montreal: The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) has released a statement cautioning against drawing any conclusions based on the preliminary assessment into the Air India 171 accident.
The federation stated that preliminary reports are intended to spread actual information collected during the initial phases of an inquiry and do not give definite conclusions.
IFALPA emphasized that the preliminary study is not definitive and should not be used to speculate or draw hasty judgments.
The organization emphasised that the research clearly states that no safety recommendations are being issued at this time, and the inquiry is still ongoing.
In an official statement released on Monday, IFALPA once again warned against hasty conclusions published by the media and social media based on this study. As a reminder, a Preliminary Report is simply the means of communication used for the quick distribution of data gathered during the early phases of the investigation and only includes factual information as well as an overview of the investigation's progress. Such reports must be issued within 30 days of the occurrence, according to ICAO Annex 13.
IFALPA is concerned about the possibility of media and social media speculation based on the early report, which may obstruct the inquiry. The organization emphasized the need for a full and professional probe to discover the reasons of the tragedy and guarantee aviation safety.
IFALPA pledged to assist the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India in identifying the reasons of the accident and underlined the need for professionalism and respect for the victims, including the crew and passenger families, during the whole inquiry.
While this preliminary Report, by definition, poses numerous issues, it does not provide answers, and any extrapolation of its data can only be considered conjecture, which is unhelpful to the proper conduct of the investigation. IFALPA also notes that the Report explicitly states that no safety recommendations are being made at this time. The Federation remains dedicated to assisting the AAIB of India in identifying the contributing circumstances to this tragedy.
It stated that "The victims, including the families of the crew and passengers of Air India 171, deserve our collective professionalism while a comprehensive probe is conducted. "
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations represents over 1,48,000 pilots in over 100 nations across the world. It is the worldwide voice of professional pilots, offering representation, services, and assistance to promote aviation safety around the world.
This follows the release of the preliminary study into the horrific crash of Air India flight 171, a Boeing 7878 aircraft, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12 by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India on July 11, 2025.
According to the research, the key incident was the simultaneous activation of fuel cut-off switches for the GE GEnx1B engines, which occurred around 30 seconds after attaining a maximum airspeed of 180 knots IAS during the initial ascent. This shut off fuel to both engines, resulting in a fatal loss of power.
The study discovered no evidence of mechanical failure, design faults, or avian attacks. Fuel samples from the refueling tanks were acceptable, indicating no pollution.
The AI 171 disaster of a Boeing Dreamliner 7878 aircraft in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, killed 260 people, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 individuals on the ground.
