AI-171 crash: AAIB issues interim statement on probe

Today marks one year since the tragic accident of Boeing 787-8 Air India Flight AI-171 en route from Ahmedabad to London on June 12, 2025, shortly after take-off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad. Photo credit: Vijay Soneji

Evidence gathered in the investigation into last year’s Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad is currently undergoing comprehensive analysis, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said in an interim statement on Friday (Jun 12, 2026).

The final report will be released only after all investigative work has been completed and the required international review and consultation processes have been completed, he added.

“The evidence collected and the results of the various investigations are currently being analyzed in a comprehensive and integrated manner,” the AAIB said in a press statement.

Separately, the Minister for Civil Aviation said in a post on X that the government was committed “to a thorough and objective determination of the causes of the accident”.

A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on takeoff on June 12, 2025, killing a total of 260 people, 241 on board and 19 on the ground.

Comment | The forgotten co-pilot of Air India Flight 171

“Significant progress has been made in the examination and analysis of aircraft systems, flight recorder data, engine-related components, maintenance and operational records and other evidence relevant to the investigation,” the statement said.

It also said that the investigation team had thoroughly examined all aspects of the accident, including technical, operational, organizational and human factors. The probe was assisted by accredited representatives, technical experts and specialists from interested organizations.

Annex 13 on the investigation of air accidents and incidents by the United Nations Aviation Safety Authority says that states must issue a final report as soon as possible, and preferably within 12 months, or publish an interim statement on each anniversary of the event.

A preliminary investigation report into the AI-171 crash found that the aircraft’s fuel control switches had moved to the off position, cutting off fuel to the engines moments before the crash. While the report stopped short of determining whether the switch movement was the result of an intentional action or an oversight or technical failure, it included a brief pilot exchange between the plane’s two pilots that sparked widespread speculation about the cause of the accident.

The Pilots Association condemned the inclusion of the excerpt, saying it helped create a story about pilot involvement before the investigation reached its final conclusion. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), along with Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, the father of Flight Commander Sumeet Sabharwal, approached the Supreme Court seeking an independent, judicially-supervised inquiry into the crash.

Published – 12 Jun 2026 18:51 IST