Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Monday has called for calm and restraint following the release of the preliminary investigation report into the tragic AI-171 accident that occurred on June 12, claiming the lives of 241 passengers. In a letter addressed to Air India employees, Wilson highlighted that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) report found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft involved in the incident.
Reassuring staff, Wilson reiterated key findings of the report, which ruled out any technical faults related to the engines, aircraft systems, fuel quality, or the take-off procedure. “The Preliminary Report found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft or engines, and that all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed,” he stated. “There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the take-off roll.”
The AAIB report also confirmed that the pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight alcohol tests and had no concerning medical history, adding further clarity that human error from a health standpoint was unlikely to be a factor. However, Wilson urged employees not to jump to conclusions, emphasizing that the report is still preliminary and does not assign blame or determine a definitive cause of the crash. “We must avoid drawing premature conclusions,” he warned. “The investigation is far from over.”
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Addressing the media speculation surrounding the incident since the tragedy, Wilson described the coverage as a “cycle of theories, allegations, rumours, and sensational headlines,” many of which, he noted, have later proven to be incorrect or misleading. In response to the crash, Wilson shared that Air India had proactively conducted precautionary inspections of its entire fleet of Boeing 787 aircraft. These inspections, carried out under the supervision of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), confirmed that all aircraft in the fleet were safe for operation.
Beyond technical and procedural matters, Wilson took a moment to commend the Air India team for their response to the tragedy. “Despite the shared grief, I could not be prouder of the togetherness, compassion and resilience that you have all shown,” he said, acknowledging the emotional and professional challenges faced by staff in the wake of the accident.
Reaffirming the airline’s full commitment to cooperate with the ongoing investigation, Wilson encouraged the workforce to stay grounded in Air India’s core values — integrity, excellence, customer focus, innovation, and teamwork. He urged them to continue supporting those impacted by the tragedy while upholding the highest standards of safety and service. The AI-171 accident remains under investigation by the AAIB, with further reports and findings expected as inquiries continue.
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