Aviation Minister Slams Western Media For Speculative Reporting On Air India Boeing Crash Probe

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said on Sunday that the government will wait for the final report on the Air India crash before making any statements. He criticised sections of the Western media for their biased and speculative coverage of the tragic Boeing Dreamliner accident, which claimed over 260 lives.

Naidu praised the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) for successfully decoding the black box data in India.

“I believe in AAIB. They have done a wonderful job decoding the black box. This is the first time the data has been recovered entirely in India without sending it abroad,” he said.

Minister Urges Caution, Rejects Speculation

The minister urged media houses, particularly in the West, to refrain from jumping to conclusions. “Making comments before the final report is not a good exercise. We will thoroughly study the findings and implement all necessary safety measures,” Naidu stated.

The AAIB, in a public appeal issued on 17 July, criticised ‘selective and unverified reporting’ by some international outlets. The Bureau said such narratives disrespect the sensitivity of the victims’ families and undermine the integrity of the investigation.

Jennifer Homendy, Chairperson of the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), also said recent media reports blaming the pilots were premature and speculative. She stressed that investigations of this scale require time and that the NTSB will continue supporting AAIB’s probe.

The AAIB clarified that the investigation is still ongoing and that the final report will be released only after identifying the root causes and issuing recommendations. The Bureau urged both the public and the media to avoid spreading unverified narratives.

Also Read: Jammu And Kashmir: Gunfight Between Security Forces And Terrorists Underway In Kishtwar District