12 June,2026 08:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur
On June 12, 2025, the London-bound AI-171 flight crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel in Ahmedabad. File Pic/By Special Arrangement
Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) President Captain CS Randhawa, on the eve of the first anniversary of the Air India (AI-171) crash tragedy, held a press conference in Ahmedabad, addressing the issues that have risen over the last year since the preliminary report (PI) was published on July 12, 2025.
Randhawa said that the preliminary report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has led to speculation about pilot error and said that it was not the right way for investigation. He further reiterated his demand for a judicial probe into the incident that claimed the lives of 260 people.
Javed Ali with his wife and children, all deceased. File Pic/By Special Arrangement
The FIP, which represents over 5400 pilots and aviation professionals, has already approached the Supreme Court seeking a judicial probe into the crash.
Demanding that the final report must state the actual reason behind the crash, Randhawa said, "There have been too many speculations, misunderstandings, and allegations that have come after the preliminary report was published," he said.
"We don't mind if the report is delayed a few more months; we just request that all aspects, be it human error, technical issue, or anything, be completely explored before a conclusion is drawn and is released to the public. The final report should be issued whenever the probe is completed," Randhawa added.
Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) President Captain CS Randhawa. Pic/PTI
The FIP chief claimed that last year's report had also given a clean chit to the companies involved in the making and operating of the aircraft - Boeing, Honeywell, and GR.
Capt Randhawa also spoke about belongings that went missing after the crash, which have not been returned to families. Imtiaz said, "We had just got their empty luggage bags. They had two phones, watches, an iPad, and gold on them, and we haven't got any of those things back." He further revealed that his brother was using a credit card, which he had on him when he boarded the flight.
"On June 16, 2025, four days after the crash, our brother-in-law got a message that the exact credit card was being used. We were shocked and didn't know what to do." Imtiaz and his family have now come to believe that after the crash, as the people went to the site, someone might have stolen the items, including the credit card from the debris.
On June 12, 2025, the London-bound AI-171 flight crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar at 1.39 pm, killing 260 people, including 241 on-board the flight and 19 on the ground, while only one passenger survived.
Imtiaz Ali, who had lost his brother Javed Ali, his sister-in-law, and his niece and nephew in the crash, told mid-day, "Even if the crash report comes tomorrow, it will not resolve or fill the gap that has been left by the loss of my family. But provided that the investigators present to us a proper reason for the crash and proof for it, we will have clarity along with the emptiness of my brother's loss." "While many speculated that the pilots were at fault or that they had any sorts of mental issues, we don't think so," Imtiaz further said.
