Investigators seek more time for Air India crash report
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released an update on the first anniversary of the Air India Flight AI171 disaster, noting that “significant progress” has been made in analysing evidence but the final report remains unavailable.
The Boeing 787‑8, bound for London, exploded into a medical‑college building six kilometres from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on 12 June 2025. It killed 241 passengers and crew, and 19 people on the ground; only one survivor, Viswashkumar Ramesh, lived after the crash.
A preliminary report published last July suggested that fuel‑control switches abruptly moved to the “cut‑off” position a few seconds after take‑off, starving the engines and triggering total power loss. Audio from the cockpit showed one pilot asking the other why the action was taken, while the second replied that he had not. The investigation has yet to determine which pilot made the statements.
The AAIB emphasizes that “the sole purpose of an accident investigation is to enhance aviation safety through the identification of lessons and safety recommendations, not to apportion blame or liability”. The final report will be released only after concluding all investigative activities and completing required international review.
Because the investigation had not yet ended, officials say the final report will be issued at a later date, extending the inquiry beyond its original timeline. The delay follows earlier statements from India’s civil aviation minister indicating that the investigation’s last stage would take at least a month, and has sparked debate about pilot accountability and safety reforms in the aviation sector.
For further details, see the published preliminary report at BBC News.
