Air Crash Investigations Trend Toward Pilot Blame Amid Backlash
Debris of Air India Flight crash in Ahmedabad! (Image X.com)
Recent probes—from Ahmedabad to Jeju—face criticism for oversimplifying causes by singling out pilots, ignoring systemic issues
By KUMAR VIKRAM
NEW DELHI, July 23, 2025 — Recent air crash investigations—most notably the Air India Ahmedabad disaster and last December’s Jeju Air tragedy—have reignited criticism over a troubling trend: attributing blame to pilots without thorough examination of wider mechanical, infrastructural, or systemic factors.
An investigation into Jeju Air Flight 2216 found that “the aircraft’s pilot mistakenly shut the wrong engine,” according to a BBC report. Nearly 179 of 181 people aboard perished when the plane crash-landed in South Korea. Families of the victims have vehemently protested, claiming investigators “pinned the blame on the pilot while ignoring other contributing factors.”
Public criticism forced authorities to delay the report’s release as families demanded a fuller, more balanced account.
In the Air India Flight 171 crash near Ahmedabad in June, a preliminary probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that fuel-control switches were moved from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” shortly after takeoff, causing both engines to fail. American media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, reported cockpit audio suggesting the captain may have manually shut off both engines.
In response, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) denounced the coverage as “speculative and irresponsible.” It also threatened legal action. The federation asserted that the AAIB did not assign blame to any pilot.
Industry observers warn this deflection of blame undermines aviation safety. The NTSB publicly criticized premature Western media narratives, urging caution and full investigations. Pilots have stated that engine shutdowns can be part of standard emergency protocols. They stressed on full examination of technical data.
Call for Deeper Probes and Structural Review
Safety experts emphasize that credible investigation should include:
- Engineering faults (e.g., fuel switch reliability per 2018 FAA advisories)
- Infrastructure issues (e.g., at Muan Airport, Jeju’s concrete barrier)
- Systemic pressures like airline training standards, pilot fatigue, and rushed procedures
The growing outcry suggests that attributing crashes to pilot error alone is not only unfair but potentially detrimental to long-term aviation safety.
As probes continue—into both the Ahmedabad and Jeju crashes—aviation bodies and media are being urged to adopt transparent, multi-dimensional investigations. Only comprehensive analysis—spanning human, technical, and systemic elements—can foster lessons that truly improve safety and restore public trust.
A section of experts has decried rush of the US-based media outlets to pin down blames on a pilot in the Ahmedabad plane crash. The bias has been attributed to the influence of US-based Boeing. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in its multiple advisories have sought thorough checks on Boeing planes in the aftermath of the Air India plane crash.
(This is an opinion piece, and views expressed are those of the author)
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