Minister Says Aircraft Crash Probe 'Unbiased, Rule-Based'

In the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu defended the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is probing the crash of AI 171, stating that it is "totally unbiased" and conducting a definitive, thorough, and rule-based investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.

- RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi

Amid ongoing speculation about the potential role of the pilots in the accident, Naidu clarified that the AAIB's preliminary report outlines only what is currently known, based on the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. "I can say this in the House that the AAIB has a very definitive and thorough rule-based process. They are very transparently looking at the (investigation) process right now, and they are totally unbiased."