Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson on Monday said that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report into last month’s fatal crash of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft found no mechanical or maintenance-related issues with the aircraft or its engines.
In a message to Air India employees, Wilson said that all required maintenance had been completed prior to the flight and that there were no irregularities in fuel quality, take-off performance, or crew condition.
“There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality during the take-off roll. The pilots had cleared the mandatory pre-flight breathalyser test, and there were no concerns noted regarding their medical status,” he said.
The AAIB released its initial findings on Saturday regarding the crash of Air India flight AI 171, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick when it went down shortly after takeoff on June 12, striking a building and killing all 260 people onboard.
Wilson stressed that the report does not attribute any cause or assign blame at this stage, nor does it offer recommendations.
“As the investigation is still ongoing, I urge everyone to refrain from speculation or drawing conclusions. We will continue to fully cooperate with investigators to support a thorough and complete inquiry,” he said.
Following the incident, and as a precautionary measure, Air India inspected every Boeing 787 in its fleet under the supervision of India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). All aircraft were found to be airworthy.
“We continue to conduct all required checks and will implement any new directives issued by authorities,” Wilson added.
The final report from the AAIB is expected to take several more months and will likely include detailed analysis of cockpit data, systems, and crew actions leading up to the crash.
