The crash of Air India Flight 171 last month has brought back a critical question for the aviation industry — should cockpit video recorders be mandatory? The incident has reopened a two-decade-old discussion about balancing pilot privacy with public safety.

Willie Walsh, head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and a former pilot himself, publicly supported the idea during a conference in Singapore. “Based on what little we know now, it’s quite possible that a video recording, in addition to the voice recording, would significantly assist investigators,” Walsh said, referencing the need to better understand mental health issues involved in such incidents.

A preliminary report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) suggests that one of the pilots may have deliberately cut off fuel supply to the engines of the Boeing 787 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. This left the aircraft in an uncontrollable state, ultimately leading to the deaths of 241 passengers and crew, along with 19 people on the ground.

Experts say that had cockpit video footage been available, investigators could have quickly confirmed what happened and why. Instead, key questions remain unanswered.

Air India crash | Credit: X

Supporters of cockpit video highlight examples where such footage proved vital. In 2023, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) used video evidence from a Robinson R66 helicopter crash to determine the cause. The video showed that the pilot, who died in the crash, had been distracted while flying — using a mobile phone and eating during flight. The ATSB called the footage “invaluable” and praised Robinson Helicopters for factory-installing cameras.

Following that investigation, ATSB urged more manufacturers and operators to consider camera installations for safety purposes.

The push for cockpit video recorders dates back decades. In 2000, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made a formal recommendation after the 1999 crash of EgyptAir Flight 990. Investigators concluded that the first officer had intentionally caused the crash, killing all 217 on board. Then-NTSB Chairman Jim Hall pressed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require cockpit cameras.

Despite strong arguments for safety, many pilots have expressed concern over constant surveillance. Aviation safety expert Anthony Brickhouse acknowledged this, saying, “Video on Air India flight 171 would have answered lots of questions.” Still, he emphasized that privacy should not outweigh safety when lives are at stake.

Air safety expert and retired pilot John Nance echoed this sentiment. “In the balance between privacy and safety, the scale tips toward safety, unequivocally,” he said. “Protecting the flying public is a sacred obligation.”

The conversation around cockpit cameras may be uncomfortable for some, but with repeated tragedies and open investigations, industry leaders may soon be forced to make a final call.

As past and present crashes resurface, the industry faces pressure to act — will safety outweigh privacy in future cockpit policy?

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