Washington DC [US], July 19 : The US federal agency, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), responsible for the investigation of aviation accidents and significant transportation events in the country, on Friday (local time) issued a strong rebuke of recent media coverage made over the preliminary investigative report on the aftermath of the ill-fated Air India 171 crash that claimed 260 lives in Gujarat's Ahmedabad last month.
Calling the media reports "premature and speculative", the NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, in a statement, urged the public and media to await official findings by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the probe into the crash incident, before drawing a conclusion based on the preliminary investigative report.
"Recent media reports on the Air India 171 crash are premature and speculative. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau just released its preliminary report. Investigations of this magnitude take time. We fully support the AAIB's public appeal, which was released Thursday, and will continue to support its ongoing investigation. All investigative questions should be addressed to the AAIB," Homendy stated.
This came following AAIB's public appeal issued on Thursday noting a strong appeal to the public and media, raising concerns about "selective and unverified reporting" by certain international outlets in the aftermath of the crash.
The AAIB, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, reaffirmed that the investigation into the Air India crash is being conducted in a "rigorous and most professional manner in accordance with the AAIB Rules and international protocols."
The Bureau cautioned that the high-profile nature of the tragedy has "drawn public attention and shock," but emphasised, "it needs to be appreciated that this is not the time to create public anxiety or angst towards the safety of the Indian Aviation Industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts."
The appeal came amid heightened global scrutiny following reports in international media.
A Wall Street Journal report, cited by Reuters, suggests that cockpit voice recordings indicate the captain may have turned off the fuel control switches shortly after takeoff, which prompted confusion and panic in the cockpit.
AAIB cautioned against drawing premature conclusions or circulating unverified information, particularly by sections of the international media, which they said risked undermining the integrity of the investigation.
"It is essential to respect the sensitivity of the loss faced by family members of deceased passengers, crew of the aircraft and other deceased persons on the ground. It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting. Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing. We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process," the letter read.
The Bureau reiterated that the objective of its investigation and preliminary report is to state "WHAT happened".
It clarified that at this stage, "it is too early to reach any definite conclusions," and the final report will be published only after the investigation is complete, including the identification of "root causes and recommendations".
The purpose of the AAIB's investigation and preliminary report is to provide information about 'WHAT' happened. The preliminary report must be viewed in this light. At this stage, it is too early to reach any definite conclusions. The AAIB investigation is still ongoing. The Final Investigation Report will come out with root causes and recommendations, the letter read.
AAIB appealed to all concerned to await the publication of the Final Investigation Report after completion of the Investigation. AAIB will also publish updates as and when required, which have technical and public interest, AAIB appeals.
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