India, July 19 -- The chair of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Jennifer Homendy, said it is too early to draw conclusions in the investigation into the deadly June 12 crash of Air India Flight 171, following media reports over senior pilot's role in cutting off fuel switches of both engines.

NTSB chairwoman Homendy called the media reports on the Air India crash "premature and speculative".

The Air India Boeing 787-7 crash, which took place on June 12 in Gujarat's Ahmedabad and claimed 260 lives, is being investigated by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with support from the NTSB.

Both the AAIB and Air India CEO Campbell Wilson have also urged the public to avoid speculation while the investiga...