Shiv Sena MP Chaturvedi questions handling of AAIB report

Mumbai, Jul 14 (PTI) Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday wrote to Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, questioning how “sensitive findings” on the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad were “leaked” to international media before an official disclosure in India.
"Because one can't be a mute spectator to what is happening with regards to the narrative around the AI171 crash and its interim report. My letter to Aviation Ministry," Chaturvedi posted on X. She also posted a copy of the letter.
In the letter, she expressed “serious concerns” regarding the manner in which the recent interim investigation report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was handled and disseminated, particularly in light of media reports surfacing in international publications before the report was officially made public in India.
“It is deeply troubling that sensitive details of the AAIB report were available to foreign news agencies and published in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal before any official release in India.
“This raises urgent questions about how the contents of the report were accessed by foreign entities prior to their dissemination to the Indian public and concerned stakeholders. Such a breach not only undermines the credibility of our aviation safety institutions but also reflects a serious lapse in information security and protocol,” she said.
Insinuations made against the deceased pilots through implication and selective leaks of the interim report as well as through international media's narrative is absolutely reprehensible, the Rajya Sabha member said.
“Such motivated speculation via broadcast, print and digital platforms shows a more sinister attempt to malign our pilots who aren't alive to put their case even pilot associations have raised their objections,” she said.
The report was “quietly released” during late hours, with no public briefing, no signed interim findings, and no clarity on the process that led to its release, she said.
The lack of transparency in such a critical matter gives rise to legitimate concerns about whose interests are being served and whether due process has been followed, she added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)