The investigation into the Air India disaster is turning toxic. Whitehall sources confirm a bitter blame game has erupted behind closed doors. Insiders describe ‘furious exchanges’ between Indian and UK safety officials. The core dispute: who is responsible for the chain of failures?
Leaked memos suggest UK experts are pointing fingers at Air India’s maintenance protocols. Indian officials fire back, citing UK air traffic control data. The atmosphere is ‘poisonous’, says a senior Department for Transport figure. ‘No one wants to take the hit.’
Now, a group of British aviation specialists are breaking ranks. They are demanding an independent inquiry, stripped of political interference. ‘The public deserves the truth, not a diplomatic spat,’ one source told me. The call is gaining traction in Westminster. Labour MPs are pressing for a Commons statement.
But Downing Street is wary. Offending New Delhi could jeopardise trade talks. For now, Number 10 is urging ‘calm and cooperation’. The official line: both parties are committed to a thorough investigation. Yet the leaks tell a different story.
The crash site remains under guard. But the real battle is being fought in Whitehall briefing rooms. Each side is building its narrative. Sources say the final report could be delayed for months. The longer it takes, the more the recriminations fester.
One former Transport Select Committee chair summed it up: ‘This is a disaster on top of a disaster. The blame game must stop. We need an independent body to take over, before confidence in the entire process collapses.’ The clock is ticking.
