New Delhi, July 17, 2025 (ANI): On Wall Street Journal's news report on Air India AI 171 crash, Former Flight Operations Inspector with DGCA, Captain Prashant Dhalla said, “The report uses a particular word - 'transitioned'. The fuel control switches transitioned, the report says. This report is trying to say that there is a challenge and response between the two pilots - one is questioning the other, and there is some kind of state of confusion between the pilots, a breakdown of CRM...If any changes were made due to a failure in this aircraft, they would have used these switches to regain power...If there was a problem with the locking mechanism of these switches, then the pilots were also helpless.”Moreover, on the Air India plane crash, aviation expert Sanjay Lazar said, “The Wall Street Journal this morning has released a report, which suggested that the commander of the flight AI171 had undone the fuel switches. The preliminary report of the AAIB of India has only released a single statement, a very bold statement, which says, "Why did you cut it off? And the pilot replied, No, I did not." Given this single statement, I do not believe that there is ample scope for us to make a determination. The preliminary report failed to provide the entire transcript of the CVR. What is strange is that the AAIB preliminary report is being disclosed and leaked in the United States. And that brings a greater worry for all of us in India because this is an independent organisation controlled by the government of India. Yet the Wall Street Journal seems to know more about it than any of us in India, our parliament, or the Civil Aviation Ministry...The Federation of Indian Pilots has expressed its dissatisfaction with the report and the role of the AAIB. I concur fully with this. We should make an appeal to the Prime Minister of India, seeking complete transparency and a judicial probe into this matter by a sitting High Court judge to ensure accountability and transparency throughout this process..."
