In brief
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has informed the Supreme Court that the draft final report on the 2025 Air India Flight 171 crash will be ready by October. The investigation is now in the analysis phase, which should finish in about six weeks. The report will detail the rapid fuel‑control switch failure that caused the Boeing 787 Dreamliner to lose power shortly after take‑off, and will also cover human‑factor findings, a psychological autopsy of the crew, and early preliminary findings. While the preliminary report floated questions about the pilots’ role, the final report will aim to clarify the precise sequence of events and decision points. The investigators have taken 49 of the 66 mandated investigation steps, and the pilot‑related speculation is expected to be addressed in the forthcoming draft.
Air India crash report likely to be ready in October, say investigators
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has notified the Supreme Court that the draft final report on the 2025 Air India flight 171 crash will be compiled by October. The investigative work, which began after the accident, is now in the analysis phase and is expected to conclude in roughly six weeks. There is currently no stated date for when the report will become public or for the disclosure of its findings.
The crash occurred on 12 June 2025, when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London slipped from the runway and crashed about 6 kilometres from the Ahmedabad airport into a medical‑college building housing doctors’ accommodation, leading to a large explosion. A total of 260 people – 241 on board and 19 on the ground – were lost, and the sole survivor was passenger Viswashkumar Ramesh from Leicester.
The Air India plane to London crashed shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport last June
The preliminary report issued the previous July concluded that a seconds‑after take‑off fuel‑control switch shift to the “cut‑off” position deprived the engines of fuel, causing a complete loss of power. Audio from the cockpit had one pilot asking why the switch changed and the other replying that it had not. That ambiguity sparked speculation regarding pilot culpability and led to calls for an independent investigation, particularly involving senior pilot Capt Sumeet Sabharwal.
The AAIB’s affidavit highlighted its extensive investigations, which included site examination, wreckage analysis, flight‑recorders search, review of crew medical and training records, a psychological autopsy of the crew, and completion of the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder. However, the report remained silent on publicly releasing findings or the cause, leaving many questions unanswered.
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The AAIB remains committed to completing the analysis, with a scheduled final report release by late October. The investigation has taken 49 of 66 mandated steps; authorities expect the draft report to shed light on the causes, crew actions, and systemic issues highlighted in the preliminary findings.
