Written by Minoo Wadia

The people of India have a right to know the truth about what happened to Air India Flight 171. The anxiety and confusion among the public following the release of the preliminary report a few days ago are, therefore, understandable. However, it is equally important to remember that the Air India crash report is exactly what it claims to be: Preliminary. Its primary purpose is to establish what happened. The why and how will be addressed in the final report, which is typically released about a year after the incident. While the public’s demand for answers is entirely justified, patience remains essential.

There is a rush in certain quarters to blame the pilots. Why should it come as a surprise that blame is already being directed at them? Within just two days of the crash, self-proclaimed aviation “experts” flooded YouTube — some even donning captain’s uniforms — offering detailed theories about the crash without any proximity to the site or access to verifiable information. Unsurprisingly, many of these theories centred on pilot error.

Yes, pilots — like doctors,........

© Indian Express