New Delhi: The Airline Pilots Association has strongly dismissed claims that the pilot was to blame for the new aircraft accident in Ahmedabad, in which he died, calling for an investigation to be conducted in an impartial way. The initial report seemed to attribute the mistake to the pilots, but an internal probe by the association found no evidence supporting this conclusion, which has now undermined confidence in their investigative process.
In a statement today, the association was strongly negative about the way the results of the investigation were prematurely published in the media. Appropriate authorities have not sufficiently overseen the report. The association also claims it has not been sure the report’s outcome was real, which has now damaged the public’s view of the process. “It has not been transparent and stringent,” the association’s spokesman said. The process has involved neither line pilots with experience nor those who are flying commercially.
The association has clearly stated that involving qualified line pilots in the investigation is essential for a fair and truthful assessment of what caused the crash. The significance of including qualified line pilots is that their absence undermines the credibility of the investigation, which in turn raises public suspicion. The call for more comprehensive and transparent investigations has been influenced by the fact that the aviation industry and general public at large are waiting to be informed about the tragedy that has caused international concern.