The Air Line Pilots&rsquo; Association of India (ALPA India) and the International Federation of Air Line Pilots&rsquo; Associations (IFALPA) have issued strong advisories in response to the recently released preliminary report by India&rsquo;s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on the Air India Flight 171 crash.
The tragic crash occurred on June 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad, claiming all lives on board and causing widespread concern about aviation safety. While the preliminary report, released on July 11, outlines early factual data from flight recorders and other sources, it explicitly avoids identifying causes or assigning blame.
IFALPA: &ldquo;Do Not Jump to Conclusions&rdquo; In a global press release dated July 14, IFALPA, which represents over 148,000 professional pilots across nearly 100 countries, cautioned governments, media, and the public against misinterpreting the contents of the preliminary report.
&ldquo;While the report raises many questions, it offers no answers. Any extrapolation can only be seen as speculation,&rdquo; said the federation. It emphasized that preliminary reports are intended only for data-sharing within 30 days of an incident, as per ICAO guidelines.
The federation stated that no safety recommendations have been issued at this stage and reaffirmed its full support to the AAIB of India in determining the actual causes of the crash.
ALPA India: &ldquo;Stay Professional, Avoid Speculation&rdquo; In an internal communication to its members dated July 15, ALPA India echoed IFALPA's stance and outlined strict guidelines for its pilots. The directive emphasizes that:
1) The preliminary report must be treated purely as an informational update
2) ALPA members should refrain from commenting or speculating in any media, public forums, or informal discussions
3) Professionalism and empathy should be upheld, particularly toward families affected by the AI-171 tragedy
4) Only official updates from AAIB or ALPA India are to be relied upon or shared
5) All media inquiries must be routed through the association&rsquo;s communications team
The directive also urges members not to act on the preliminary report&rsquo;s content and to await comprehensive findings before any procedural changes are considered.
A Call for Respect and Patience Both IFALPA and ALPA India are advocating for a respectful and fact-based approach during this sensitive period. "The victims and their families deserve our collective professionalism while the full investigation is conducted,&rdquo; the IFALPA statement concluded.
As the AAIB continues its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash of Flight AI-171, these associations are playing a vital role in ensuring that pilot communities remain united, professional, and focused on the principles of aviation safety and integrity.

Pilots' Bodies Warn Against AI-171 Report Speculation

ALPA India and IFALPA urge professionalism, patience as AI-171 crash probe continues

Pilots' Bodies Warn Against AI-171 Report

ALPA India and IFALPA urge professionalism, patience as AI-171 crash probe continues

July 15, 2025 | 23:48 IST