AAIB Expected To Release Final Report On Air India AI171 Crash Investigation

India’s aviation safety authorities are expected to release a closely watched report on the Air India flight AI 171 crash on June 12, marking one year since the tragedy that killed 260 people, including passengers and individuals on the ground. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been leading the inquiry into one of the country’s deadliest aviation disasters, and the findings are anticipated to provide the most detailed account yet of what led to the catastrophic incident.

The crash involved 241 of the 242 people onboard losing their lives, along with 19 fatalities on the ground, making it a major aviation disaster in recent Indian history. Over the past year, the AAIB and the Civil Aviation Ministry have released limited official updates, primarily issuing a preliminary report and occasional statements addressing speculation and foreign media claims based on alleged leaks.

A key focus of the investigation has been the aircraft’s fuel control system and whether the fuel supply to both engines was interrupted shortly after takeoff. Early reports, largely attributed to international media coverage, suggested that cockpit fuel switches may have moved from the “RUN” to “CUTOFF” position. In standard aviation operations, the RUN mode allows continuous fuel flow to engines, while CUTOFF immediately halts fuel supply, leading to engine shutdown.

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Investigators have also examined cockpit voice recordings and flight data recorders. While data from the front-mounted flight recorder was successfully recovered, the tail-mounted recorder was reportedly damaged. In one recovered cockpit exchange, a pilot is heard questioning the other about cutting off fuel, while the other denies having done so. This exchange has added complexity to determining whether the event was caused by human action or a technical malfunction.

Some aviation experts, including pilots and safety specialists, have proposed alternative theories suggesting that an electrical or systems failure could have triggered an automatic shutdown of fuel delivery. However, these interpretations remain under review, and no official conclusion has been released. The investigation has also included analysis of engine control components, with investigators reportedly examining systems in France linked to engine management functions.

Global aviation accident investigations are governed by standards set under International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13, which recommends final reports be issued within 12 months of an incident where possible. If delays occur, authorities are expected to release interim updates annually on the anniversary date. With the final report expected soon, the findings are likely to be closely scrutinized by aviation experts, regulators, and the families of victims seeking clarity on what led to the disaster.

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