NEW DELHI: A preliminary probe into the June 12 AI-171 crash finds no “mechanical or maintenance issues” with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft and its engines, and also no fault with fuel quality and “medical status” of the pilots, according to the airline’s CEO Campbell Wilson.In his first internal note to employees since the report’s release, Wilson acknowledged the findings but cautioned against speculation. “The preliminary report identified no cause nor made any recommendations,” he wrote Monday. “I urge everyone to avoid drawing premature conclusions as the investigation is far from over.”Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s initial report concluded that “all mandatory maintenance tasks had been completed” and “no mechanical or maintenance issues” were detected. Fuel quality and take-off roll were cleared, as were pilot breathalyser and medical checks.The report has raised eyebrows within aviation circles – not for what it reveals, but for what it omits. Released in India nearly two days after being shared with sections of western media, the report has triggered new rounds of speculation, including a disputed suicide theory strongly denied by the pilot community.“There was no issue with quality of fuel and no abnormality with the take-off roll,” Wilson said. “The pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status.”India’s first wide-body aircraft disaster in decades has shaken public confidence in Air India. The airline has since cut multiple flights, both on wide-body and narrow-body aircraft, as it works to stabilise operations.“Despite the shared grief, I could not be prouder of the togetherness, compassion and resilience that you have all shown,” Wilson wrote to Air India’s staff. “We must remain focused on our task and be true to values that have powered Air India’s transformation – integrity, excellence, customer focus, innovation and teamwork.”Wilson said preliminary findings bring “greater clarity” but also open “additional questions”. He underscored the psychological toll of the crash on staff and the broader aviation community, especially amid unfounded theories.To reassure passengers, Wilson said that “out of an abundance of caution and under oversight of DGCA, every Boeing 787 aircraft operating in our fleet was checked within days of the accident and all were found fit for service”.
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