# Pilots’ body seeks seat on Air India crash review panel

2026-09-26T12:17:31+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has written to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu seeking representation on an independent committee expected to review the draft final investigation report into the Air India AI-171 crash. The Boeing 787 crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is preparing the report, which the government said could be ready by October. In its September 25 letter, FIP cited what it called a "material discrepancy" between AAIB's preliminary report and independent simulator testing. The federation says simulator tests showed an 18-second gap in hydraulic power availability from the Ram Air Turbine after fuel interruption, versus AAIB's recorded four seconds. FIP also flagged differences in recorded takeoff timings and has asked that these be reconciled before the report is finalised. The government has told the Supreme Court the draft report must be circulated to the US National Transportation Safety Board for comments, a process that could take 30-60 days. FIP has requested a personal hearing with the minister and access to relevant portions of the draft report.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Both Hindustan Times and Times Now report the same basic facts, but Times Now leads with FIP's technical challenge to AAIB's data, giving the pilots' specific discrepancy numbers the headline slot. Hindustan Times leads with the procedural request for representation and devotes more space to the government's explanation of the ICAO-mandated review process. The combined reading shows a pilots' body pushing back on what it sees as a flawed investigation timeline, while the government follows international protocols that could delay final findings. The key number to track is whether AAIB publicly reconciles the 4-second versus 18-second RAT timing gap in its final report.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ahmedabad-air-india-crash-pilots-body-seeks-representation-on-panel-reviewing-ai-171-draft-final-probe-report-101790416513246.html>
  Brief summary only, no additional detail.
- timesnownews.com (neutral report) <https://www.timesnownews.com/india/pilots-body-to-govt-let-us-be-part-of-ai-171-crash-review-panel-article-156229581>
  Leads with technical discrepancy numbers from FIP.
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ht-evening-brief-sept-26-poll-body-issues-clarification-on-sir-concerns-double-kabaddi-gold-for-india-at-asian-games-101790423651232.html>
  Brief summary only, no additional detail.

Tags: AAIB, Ahmedabad, Air India AI-171 crash, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Federation of Indian Pilots, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu
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