Premature and Speculative: US NTSB Chief Criticizes Media Over Air India Crash Coverage

New Delhi: The Chair of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, has strongly criticized recent media reports on the Air India flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad, calling them “premature and speculative.” She urged the media and the public to await the final report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is leading the probe into the tragic incident.

Taking to social media platform X, Homendy stated, “India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has just released its preliminary report. Investigations of this scale take time. We fully support the AAIB’s recent public appeal and will continue to assist with their ongoing investigation.” She emphasized that any queries regarding the investigation should be directed to the AAIB.

The NTSB is the U.S. agency responsible for investigating major aviation and transportation incidents and is assisting in the inquiry given the involvement of a Boeing aircraft.

Earlier, the AAIB also expressed concern over unverified and misleading media coverage. In a statement, the agency warned against “selective and unverified reporting,” calling such actions “irresponsible and potentially harmful to the integrity of the investigation.”

This response came after a Wall Street Journal report alleged, based on cockpit audio, that the pilot of the ill-fated Air India flight may have manually cut off the fuel supply to the engines.

“We have noted that some international media outlets are repeatedly drawing conclusions based on incomplete and unverified information,” the AAIB said. “Such reporting is reckless, especially while the investigation is still ongoing. We urge the public and media to avoid spreading premature narratives that could jeopardize the investigative process.”

According to aviation experts, the circumstances surrounding the possible "fuel switch to cut off" need to be thoroughly examined by multiple international regulatory bodies — including the NTSB, FAA, EASA, AAIB, India's DGCA, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA).

They noted that this is a complex case requiring full cooperation from all parties, and that no detail should be overlooked in uncovering the truth behind the crash.

With inputs from IANS