<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">On Friday midnight, July 12, an unverified document claiming to be the preliminary crash report of Air India Flight AI-171 surfaced online. The document, falsely attributed to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), appeared to blame the pilots for the tragedy. The Air Line Pilots&rsquo; Association of India (ALPA) strongly condemned the leak, calling it unethical, unofficial, and misleading.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The crash occurred on June 12, 2025, when Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed seconds after takeoff, killing all 241 people onboard. The incident shocked the nation, but misinformation began spreading before verified details could be released.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The viral report mimicked the appearance of an official AAIB document. It used technical jargon, timelines, and suggested human error, particularly by the captain. However, it lacked official seals, investigator signatures, and was never published on any government platform.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.techarp.com/aviation/ai-171-report-reveal-crash-cause-fact-check" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TechARP.com</a>, in its fact-check, concluded the document likely used generative AI, combining real flight data with fabricated events and technical inaccuracies. Despite these flaws, it went viral and was amplified by influencers and some media outlets before being retracted.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What the Real Preliminary Report Says</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The actual preliminary report released on Friday, July 12, by the AAIB, is based on verified data from the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. It reveals that both engine fuel cutoff switches were moved from RUN to CUTOFF within one second of each other, just 32 seconds after takeoff. One pilot was heard asking, &ldquo;Why did you cut off fuel?&rdquo; to which the other replied, &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t.&rdquo; Attempts were made to restart the engines within 10 seconds. Engine 1 began recovering, while Engine 2 failed to relight. The Ram Air Turbine (RAT) deployed automatically as a backup power source. The report noted no signs of external damage, bird strikes, or mechanical failure.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Importantly, the report does not assign blame or suggest intent or sabotage. Investigators continue to examine what caused the switches to be moved.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Inspired by LATAM Incident, but Distorted</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Aviation experts believe the fake crash report borrowed elements from a March 2024 incident involving a LATAM Airlines Boeing 787-9. That aircraft experienced a sudden nosedive, injuring about 50 passengers. The incident was later linked to a malfunction in the pilot&rsquo;s motorized seat, which pushed the captain into the control column.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The fake AI-171 document falsely claimed that the captain&rsquo;s seat had moved backward, causing him to pull back the thrust levers. It alleged the First Officer could not override the motion due to the captain&rsquo;s weight. Experts dismissed this theory as implausible, noting the described seat movement would have pulled the pilot away from the controls.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Safety Measures Already in Place</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Following the LATAM incident, Boeing issued a Service Bulletin for airlines to inspect and modify seat switch mechanisms. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration followed up with a mandatory airworthiness directive in August 2024, requiring all Boeing 787s to complete inspections by December 2025.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">In India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered safety checks of all 33 Boeing 787s in the Indian fleet after the AI-171 crash. By June 15, 22 aircraft had been inspected, and officials confirmed that no irregularities were found. The checks included fuel system monitoring, cabin air pressure systems, and electronic engine control tests, though no public mention was made of pilot seat inspections.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>A Cautionary Tale of Virality Over Verification</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The AI-171 incident has become a sobering example of how misinformation can spread faster than facts. The fake report misled the public, disrespected the victims, and complicated an already sensitive investigation. Experts urge the public and media to avoid jumping to conclusions and to wait for confirmed details.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">As investigations continue, the families of the victims and the aviation community deserve clarity, not conspiracy. Until then, the best way to honor those lost is to uphold the truth and allow investigators to do their work without interference.</span></div>

Pilots’ union slams viral hoax report as official probe finds no evidence of mechanical or human error

Did Flight AI-171 Fall From the Sky and Take the Truth With It?

Pilots’ union slams viral hoax report as official probe finds no evidence of mechanical or human error

July 12, 2025 | 23:33 IST