AAIB Tells Supreme Court Final Air India Crash Report Will Be Ready In October

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has informed the Supreme Court that its final report into the Air India AI-171 crash will be submitted in October 2026, providing an updated timeline for the investigation into one of India's deadliest aviation disasters. The disclosure came during a hearing on petitions seeking a court-monitored probe into the June 12, 2025 crash near Ahmedabad that claimed 260 lives. The Supreme Court has directed the AAIB to file the report in October and scheduled the next hearing for the last week of the month.

During the proceedings, the government-run investigation agency clarified that the probe is not an internal exercise confined to officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The AAIB told the court that the investigation includes aviation experts and officials from countries whose citizens were among those killed in the crash. The petitions, filed by the father of Captain Sumit Sabharwal and the Federation of Indian Pilots, allege discrepancies in the ongoing investigation and seek judicial oversight to ensure transparency.

Representing the AAIB, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, that the investigation involves extensive technical analysis, simulations and forensic examinations to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the crash. He explained that several aircraft components had to be sent overseas for specialised examination before being returned to India, resulting in delays to the investigation. While the AAIB had earlier indicated that the final report could be ready by January, it has now committed to submitting its findings in a sealed cover by October.

Also Read: Oman Proposes Malacca-Style Framework For Strait Of Hormuz: Report

Air India flight AI-171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed seconds after take-off on June 12, 2025. The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, with only one passenger surviving the accident. The plane also crashed into the hostel of a medical college in Ahmedabad, killing 19 people on the ground, taking the overall death toll to 260. The tragedy prompted one of the country's most significant aviation investigations in recent years.

A preliminary report released by the AAIB found that both engine fuel control switches moved from the "RUN" position to "CUTOFF" moments before the crash. The report also referred to a cockpit voice recording in which one pilot was heard asking, "Why did you cut off?" to which the other replied, "I didn't." While the exchange led to widespread speculation over the possible role of pilot error, the preliminary findings stopped short of assigning responsibility or explaining what caused the switches to move. The forthcoming final report is expected to provide a comprehensive analysis of the technical and operational factors behind the crash.

Also Read: Spotify Users Report App Glitches As DownDetector Tracks Rising Outage Complaints