New Delhi: A fake message claiming to be a preliminary investigation report into an alleged crash of Air India Flight AI-171 is circulating widely on WhatsApp. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) took to social media to issue a fact-check.
The viral message, which attributes the report to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), has been confirmed as false by government authorities. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, PIB wrote, “A message circulating on #WhatsApp claims to be the preliminary investigation report of the AI-171 crash by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. #PIBFactCheck: This message is #Fake This report has not been issued by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau Always rely on official sources for accurate information.”
Have a look at their post here:
Viral WhatsApp Message Claims 'Mechanical Failure'
The now-debunked message falsely claims that a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, operating as AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed 38 seconds after take-off, killing 247 people.
As per the fabricated report, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau allegedly blamed a mechanical failure involving the captain's seat, which reportedly slid backward during take-off, causing the thrust levers to be pulled into idle.
The message even fabricated a flight timeline, cockpit voice recordings, maintenance details, and technical part numbers, adding a layer of false technical credibility. It claims the seat locking mechanism failed, the captain lost control, and the first officer could not override the thrust reduction.
No such crash involving an Air India flight has occurred, and the AAIB has not issued any report matching these details.
Authorities Warn Against Spreading Unverified Information
The PIB has advised citizens to avoid sharing unverified and sensationalist claims. “Always rely on official sources for accurate information,” the bureau said in its post.
Circulating fake accident reports not only spreads misinformation but can cause panic and undermine public trust in regulatory institutions. Authorities have reminded the public to verify all aviation-related updates through official channels such as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), AAIB, and government agencies.
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