MPs seek transparency on cockpit confusion and safety lapses; AAIB urges restraint amid probe
New Delhi: 21 July 2025
The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on a solemn note today as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla led members in paying tribute to the 260 victims of the Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani marking one of the gravest aviation tragedies in India’s history.
As the Parliament got back to work, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and opposition leaders took a moment of silence setting an appropriate contemplative tone.
In the meantime, 22 Members of Parliament posed urgent questions to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on the status and transparency of the ongoing AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) investigation. Key questions revolve around:
- Cockpit voice recorder analysis
- Suspected fuel system malfunctions
- Switch misconfigurations
- Broader safety protocol failure
The scrutiny follows last week’s preliminary AAIB report, which cited “confusion in the cockpit” in the final moments of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner’s descent into a densely populated area. The report has triggered international headlines and speculation prompting AAIB to warn against “premature and unverified conclusions.”
To boost the probe’s credibility, the ministry has appointed veteran pilot Captain R.S. Sandhu, former Director of Operations at Air India, to assist investigators.
With emotions still raw and trust in regulatory oversight under pressure, lawmakers across party lines are expected to demand accountability and lasting aviation reforms in the coming weeks.
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