Air India Crash Investigation Enters Final Phase as Draft Report Expected by October

India's official investigation into the Air India Flight 171 disaster has entered its final analytical stage, with investigators informing the Supreme Court that a draft final report is expected to be completed by October. The update comes more than a year after the Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad claimed 260 lives in one of India's deadliest aviation disasters.

Investigation Nears Completion After More Than a Year

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) told India's Supreme Court in an affidavit filed Tuesday that investigators are currently in the analysis phase of the inquiry, which is expected to conclude within the next six weeks.

The agency said a draft version of the final investigation report could be ready in October 2026. However, officials did not indicate when the report would be publicly released and did not disclose any conclusions regarding the cause of the crash.

Air India Flight 171 Crashed Shortly After Takeoff

The accident occurred on June 12, 2025, when Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed moments after departing from Ahmedabad Airport in western India.

The aircraft went down approximately 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the runway, striking a medical college building used as doctors' accommodation before erupting into flames.

The disaster killed 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew members aboard the aircraft and 19 people on the ground. Viswashkumar Ramesh, a passenger from Leicester, was the sole survivor.

AAIB Says Most Required Investigation Steps Are Complete

According to the affidavit, investigators have completed 49 of the 66 mandatory procedures required under India's aircraft accident investigation framework.

Completed work includes:

• Examination of the crash site and aircraft wreckage

• Recovery and analysis of the flight data and cockpit voice recorders

• Review of maintenance records

• Evaluation of crew training and medical histories

• Assessment of operational safety procedures

• Analysis of organizational culture and human factors

The AAIB said investigators also commissioned a psychological evaluation as part of the inquiry, confirming that the psychologist's final report has been received.

Cockpit Voice Recorder Has Been Fully Transcribed

The agency confirmed it has completed a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder.

While investigators did not release any additional details, the transcript remains a key piece of evidence in determining the sequence of events leading to the crash.

The AAIB's preliminary report, published one month after the accident, revealed that both fuel-control switches unexpectedly moved into the "cut-off" position seconds after takeoff, shutting off fuel flow to both engines and causing a complete loss of power.

Cockpit audio captured one pilot asking the other why the switches had been moved, while the second pilot responded that he had not done so. The preliminary report did not identify which crew member made either statement.

Media Speculation Prompted Official Response

The ambiguity surrounding the cockpit conversation fueled widespread speculation, including reports from several international media outlets suggesting investigators were focusing attention on senior pilot Captain Sumeet Sabharwal.

The reports drew criticism from Sabharwal's family, pilot organizations, and the AAIB itself, which said conclusions should not be drawn before the investigation is complete.

In its latest court filing, the AAIB stated that media coverage assigning blame to the flight crew has complicated the investigation by making some witnesses reluctant to cooperate fully.

Court Filing Linked to Independent Investigation Request

The affidavit was submitted in response to a petition filed by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal's father, who has requested an independent investigation into the crash.

The AAIB defended its ongoing inquiry, saying it continues to follow internationally recognized accident investigation procedures while completing the remaining stages of analysis.

Final Report Expected to Answer Key Questions

The forthcoming final report is expected to address several unresolved issues surrounding India's worst aviation accident in decades, including the sequence of cockpit events, technical findings, operational factors,s and any safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies.

Until the report is finalized, investigators have emphasized that no definitive conclusions should be drawn regarding responsibility for the crash.