Air India Crash Report: Draft Ready by October – Investigators Update

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:09:06 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

India’s aviation probe says a final report on the Air India crash could be ready in October, with key findings still under wraps.

The crash of Air India Flight 171 last year, which killed 260 people, left investigators racing to finish a comprehensive analysis. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will release a draft report in October, after completing 49 of 66 required steps. The preliminary analysis blamed sudden fuel‑cutoff switches, but blame will still be debated. The investigation includes psychological analysis of crew, cockpit‑voice transcriptions, and a detailed review of the accident site.

Air India crash report: Draft ready by October, says investigators

On 12 June 2025, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London crashed just after take‑off from Ahmedabad’s airport, killing 260 people – 241 on board and 19 on the ground. A survivor, Viswashkumar Ramesh, made headlines but the tragedy still resonates across India and beyond.

Investigators getting closer to the final report

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) filed an affidavit with India’s Supreme Court saying the analysis phase of the crash investigation should finish in about six weeks, aiming for a draft final report in October. The bureau has completed 49 of 66 mandatory investigative steps, including site inspection, wreckage analysis, and data review.

Fuel‑cutoff switches – preliminary findings show engines lost power due to abrupt switch movements.
Psychological autopsy – a psychologist evaluated crew members’ mental states, aiming to understand human factors.
Cockpit‑voice transcript – a transcript was prepared, revealing one pilot asking the other why a switch was moved, but the speaker remains unidentified.
Media speculation – claims pointing to senior pilot Capt Sumeet Sabharwal have sparked backlash and lawsuits.

While the report’s release remains pending, the AAIB says it will keep the public updated once the draft is ready. The investigation still holds hinges on the complex mix of technical failures, human factors, and organizational culture that led to this tragedy.

Stay tuned for the October draft, which experts hope will provide clarity, closure, and lessons to prevent future accidents.

Source: BBC News, Mumbai