New Delhi, July 20:
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Sunday criticized certain Western media outlets for their “biased and speculative” coverage of the recent Air India Boeing crash that claimed over 260 lives. He emphasized that the government will refrain from commenting on the incident until the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) releases its final report.
Speaking to the media, Naidu commended the AAIB for successfully decoding the black box data domestically—a first in India’s aviation history. “In the past, damaged black boxes were sent abroad for decoding. But this time, our experts have done it successfully in India itself. The preliminary report has been prepared,” he said.
The minister called on the international media, particularly Western outlets, to stop speculating about the crash’s cause. “The AAIB has made a strong appeal against premature and misleading reports, especially those that appear to have vested interests,” Naidu stated.
He stressed that drawing conclusions before the final report is not only premature but also undermines the investigation’s integrity. “The government is carefully studying the findings. Safety measures, if needed, will be implemented after the final report,” he assured.
Meanwhile, U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairperson Jennifer Homendy echoed these sentiments, calling recent media narratives “premature and speculative.” She reaffirmed the NTSB’s continued support for AAIB’s investigation.
In a public statement on July 17, the AAIB also criticized international media for “selective and unverified reporting,” urging respect for the victims’ families and the investigative process. The bureau reiterated that it is too early to draw conclusions and assured that a comprehensive report, identifying root causes and safety recommendations, will be released once the investigation concludes.
