The chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, on Friday urged restraint after several outlets suggested the captain of Air India Flight 171 deliberately shut off both engine fuel switches before the aircraft crashed on June 12.
Calling the reports “premature and speculative,” Homendy stressed that the investigation—led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) with NTSB support—remains in its early stages. “Inquiries of this magnitude take time,” she said, adding that all technical questions should be directed to the AAIB.
Flight 171, a Boeing 787‑8 en route to New Delhi, went down near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, killing all 260 people on board. The AAIB released a preliminary report earlier this week but has not assigned probable cause.
Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson likewise cautioned the public against drawing conclusions until the final report is issued.
Investigators continue to analyze cockpit-voice and flight‑data recorders, debris patterns, and maintenance logs. The NTSB reiterated its full cooperation with Indian authorities and emphasized the need for an evidence‑based approach rather than conjecture.
