Ahmedabad, Sep 2026 : The investigation into the June 2025 crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad has entered its final stage, with the final report expected to be issued soon, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said.
The Minister said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is completing the remaining procedures in accordance with established international standards before submitting its findings. His remarks came amid continued scrutiny of the probe by the Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions seeking an independent and court-monitored investigation into one of India's deadliest aviation disasters.
The Centre had earlier informed the Supreme Court that the final draft of the investigation report would be submitted in a sealed cover during the first week of October. The apex court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter for October 13.
The government had told the court in July that the statutory investigation by the AAIB had made substantial progress. It also informed the bench that four simulation tests had been carried out in connection with an application filed by one of the petitioners. The court subsequently decided to wait for the findings of the statutory investigation before determining whether any additional inquiry was necessary.
The investigation has involved extensive technical and operational examination, reflecting the complexity and international dimensions of the accident. The AAIB has said that the probe is being conducted under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, as amended, along with the standards and recommended practices prescribed under Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Accredited representatives, technical advisers and subject matter experts from relevant organisations have also been involved in the investigation. The participation of multiple agencies and specialists is aimed at ensuring that all technical, operational and human factors associated with the accident are thoroughly examined.
Minister Naidu had earlier emphasised that the investigation should not be rushed at the cost of following the prescribed international procedures. He said the AAIB was committed to strictly adhering to the established protocol and completing every required stage before the final report was released.
The AAIB had issued a preliminary report on July 12, 2025, providing factual information about the accident. According to the report, the fuel control switches of both engines moved from the 'RUN' position to 'CUTOFF' shortly after take-off, leading to a loss of engine thrust. However, the preliminary report did not establish a final cause for the crash and was not intended to represent the bureau's concluding findings.
Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, 2025.
The aircraft was carrying 242 people, including passengers and crew. All but one person on board were killed, while 19 people on the ground also lost their lives, taking the overall death toll to 260. The sole survivor escaped from the aircraft after the crash.
The aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad's Meghani Nagar area and struck the doctors' hostel of BJ Medical College, causing extensive damage and casualties on the ground.
The disaster prompted a comprehensive investigation into the aircraft's systems, flight data, operational circumstances and possible human factors. The final AAIB report is expected to establish the investigators' conclusions regarding the causes and contributing factors behind the crash, while providing greater clarity on the sequence of events that led to the tragedy.
