New Delhi: Amid growing speculation around the probe into the Air India crash, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday said the government wants to stand with the truth, not anything else. While addressing the Rajya Sabha, he said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of India successfully decoded data from the black box of the fatal aircraft that crashed last month in Ahmedabad soon after takeoff. The Union Minister further said that the AAIB follows a definitive, rule-based process, totally unbiased in probing Air India plane crash.
Urging both lawmakers and the media to refrain from drawing premature conclusions, Naidu reaffirmed his ministry’s confidence in the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), asserting that the final report alone should guide public discourse.
“We want to stand with truth, not anything else,” the minister said, amid heightened scrutiny from international media outlets and political opposition. “Until the final report comes, nobody should jump to any conclusion,” he added, while defending the integrity and expertise of the AAIB.
His remarks came in response to opposition parties demanding clarity over the findings of the AAIB’s preliminary report and questioning possible lapses.
The preliminary report, submitted to the Ministry on July 16, has identified potential mechanical issues, but Naidu emphasized that only the final report will provide a comprehensive understanding of the tragedy that claimed 260 lives. He assured the House that all aspects—including human error, mechanical malfunction, and procedural lapses—are under detailed scrutiny.
Highlighting a milestone in Indian aviation safety capabilities, Naidu noted that the Flight Data Recorder (black box) was decoded domestically for the first time. The decoding was done using facilities established by the AAIB in Delhi in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). “This is a matter of pride for the country. We didn’t have to send the black box abroad,” he said.
The minister also revealed that following the crash, Air India has begun inspections and checks of the locking mechanisms of fuel switches across its Boeing 737 and 787 fleets. This comes in light of reports that the crash may have been triggered by a switch malfunction that could shut off fuel supply without pilot command.
Taking aim at the international media’s coverage, Naidu urged restraint. “This is not a time for vested interests or sensationalism. We appeal to the media to wait for the final investigation report,” he said.
The tragic crash of Air India Flight 171 in Ahmedabad remains one of the worst in recent Indian aviation history. The lone survivor from the 242 people on board has since been recovering, while families of the deceased await closure.
Naidu concluded by assuring Parliament that the government remains committed to transparency, safety reforms, and upholding the truth—once all facts are officially established by the competent authorities. Earlier, the Monsoon session of Parliament began by paying tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the Air India AI-171 plane crash.
