The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has informed the Supreme Court that the draft final report into the Air India Flight AI171 crash is expected to be ready by October 2026. In an affidavit submitted ahead of the upcoming hearing, the bureau said the investigation is in its final technical phase, involving evidence collection, forensic analysis, and examination of aircraft systems. It added that the remaining investigative work is likely to be completed within six weeks, subject to the resolution of external dependencies. As required under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules, the draft report will first be shared with the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for review before it is finalized.
The AAIB told the court that investigators have interviewed numerous witnesses, including Air India and Boeing 787 pilots, cabin crew, air traffic controllers, and aviation experts specializing in human factors and flight operations. However, the bureau expressed concern that widespread media speculation and narratives blaming the pilots have made some witnesses hesitant to cooperate fully with investigators. The affidavit also opposed demands for a court-monitored or independent inquiry, arguing that the investigation is being conducted under an internationally recognized legal framework that provides no basis for a parallel probe. According to the bureau, 49 of the 66 prescribed investigative procedures have already been completed.
The investigation agency also firmly rejected requests to publicly release cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and airborne image recordings, stating that Indian aviation rules prohibit their disclosure. It emphasized that the purpose of the investigation is to identify safety lessons and prevent future accidents rather than assign criminal or civil liability. Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people, including 241 occupants on board and 19 people on the ground. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear petitions seeking an independent investigation into the tragedy later this week.
