AI 171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12 (ANI)

NEW DELHI: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has declined a request from the pilots’ body ALPA India to include its representative in the team probing the June 12 Air India crash that killed 260 people.“AAIB expressed its inability to include pilots from ALPA as subject matter experts in the team probing the Air India plane crash, citing government norms,” Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) India president Sam Thomas told PTI after the group’s representatives met AAIB DG GVG Yugandhar in the national capital. “There was not much discussion on the Air India plane crash due to the ongoing investigation. We have been given assurance that we would be invited for the quarterly meetings in the future,” Thomas added.ALPA India, an associate member of the global pilots’ body IFALPA, has been demanding that its representative be included in the probe into the aviation disaster that occurred in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. On Thursday, it said the meeting was meant to deliberate on its role as a “subject matter expert” in accident investigations. “ALPA India is optimistic of a positive outcome from this engagement, particularly with regard to participation as part of the investigation into the AI 171 crash. Such collaboration is expected to strengthen investigative processes by incorporating the critical perspective of pilots, thereby contributing to safer skies for all,” the body had stated.The Air India Boeing 787-8 operating flight AI 171 to London Gatwick crashed soon after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 241 passengers. In its preliminary report released on July 12, AAIB said, “Fuel supply to both engines of the plane was cut off within a gap of one second, causing confusion in the cockpit soon after take-off.” On September 22, the Supreme Court called the selective publication of the preliminary report—which outlined lapses on the part of pilots—a “media narrative” and described it as “unfortunate and irresponsible.”