Minister Warns Against Speculation in Air India Crash Probe

Ram Mohan Naidu Criticizes Western Media, Urges Patience Until Final Report Is Released

New Delhi : Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has urged restraint and patience as the investigation into the tragic Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash continues. Speaking on Sunday, the minister made it clear that no conclusions should be drawn until the final report is published. He also criticized some Western media outlets for biased and speculative reporting that he said could jeopardize the integrity of the investigation.

“We must wait for the final report before making any comment. Any statement now would be premature and not in the interest of a fair inquiry,” Naidu said.

The minister praised India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) for its role in the probe and especially for successfully decoding the aircraft’s black box domestically—a significant achievement for Indian aviation authorities.

“This is the first time we were able to decode the black box in India itself,” Naidu said. “In earlier accidents, if the black box was even slightly damaged, we had to send it abroad. This time, the AAIB did a fantastic job decoding everything here and has already prepared a preliminary report.”

He added that while the government remains cautious, necessary safety measures will be implemented based on the final findings. He stressed that speculation, particularly from foreign sources, was not only unhelpful but potentially harmful.

Naidu took aim at international media, especially Western outlets, for what he termed “vested interests” and unfair narratives. “AAIB has made an appeal to all, especially the Western media, which seems to have an interest in pushing premature conclusions,” he noted.

His comments were echoed by U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairperson Jennifer Homendy, who also condemned speculative coverage following the incident. Homendy noted that investigations of such magnitude require time and accuracy, adding that the NTSB will continue to support the AAIB-led probe.

Recent reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters have been under scrutiny for appearing to place blame on the Air India pilots, even though no formal conclusions have been reached. The AAIB issued a public letter on July 17, expressing strong concern over “selective and unverified reporting” by some international outlets.

“It is essential to respect the sensitivity of the loss faced by the families of deceased passengers, crew, and civilians on the ground,” the AAIB wrote. “Certain international media sections are repeatedly trying to draw conclusions through speculative reporting. Such actions are irresponsible while the investigation is ongoing.”

The bureau emphasized that it is still too early to identify the root cause of the crash and that the final report will be made public only after a comprehensive investigation is completed.

The crash of the Air India Boeing Dreamliner resulted in the deaths of over 260 people, marking one of the worst aviation tragedies in recent years. The incident has prompted a high-level, multi-agency investigation involving both Indian and international aviation authorities.

Until the investigation is complete, authorities have urged the public and media to avoid speculation and allow the process to reach its conclusions through verified data and expert analysis.