In the wake of the Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu has strongly criticized reports from Western media outlets, accusing them of potential "vested interests" and urging them to avoid premature conclusions. The minister's statement comes after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) cautioned against spreading early narratives regarding the June 12 accident.

Naidu expressed confidence in the ongoing investigation by the AAIB, highlighting their expertise in decoding the black box within India itself. He emphasized that making comments before the final report is released would be unproductive. The Civil Aviation Minister also referenced the AAIB's appeal to all, particularly Western media houses, suggesting they may have ulterior motives in their reporting.

The Air India flight AI 171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, resulting in the death of 260 people, including 241 passengers. The AAIB's preliminary report indicated that the fuel control switches of both engines were switched to the "cutoff" position within one second of each other during the ascent, leading to an immediate loss of altitude. The report suggests a possible catastrophic pilot error.

Following the release of the AAIB's preliminary report on July 12, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) President Captain CS Randhawa criticized The Wall Street Journal and Reuters for allegedly publishing reports not based on factual content. The FIP has initiated legal action against these publications, demanding an official apology for misleading the public with their own conclusions.

The AAIB has also defended its investigative integrity, referencing its history of conducting 92 inquiries and handling 111 serious incidents since 2012. They have described the AI 171 investigation as one of the most significant in recent times, emphasizing their adherence to rigorous international protocols. The bureau has promised regular updates and transparency as the investigation progresses.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has also refuted media claims about the AI-171 crash investigation. The AAIB has described certain sections of the international media as repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting and has stressed that it is too early to reach any definite conclusions.