In brief
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has informed the Supreme Court that the analysis of the 260‑death Air India Boeing 787 crash is expected to conclude in six weeks, with a draft final report projected for October. The crash occurred on 12 June 2025 shortly after take‑off from Ahmedabad, killing 241 passengers and 19 people on the ground. The preliminary investigation highlighted a sudden shift of fuel‑control switches to cut‑off, leading to engine failure, but details about pilot involvement remain inconclusive. Human‑factor studies, psychological autopsies, and cockpit voice recordings have been examined, with the agency completing 49 of 66 mandated investigative steps. The agency has not released findings or a publication date yet, and the lack of clarity has fueled media speculation and debate over the pilots’ role.
Air India Crash Investigation Update
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has told the Supreme Court that the analysis phase of the investigation into the 12 June 2025 Air India crash is near completion. The draft final report, anticipated for October, will follow after roughly six weeks of detailed examination of evidence.
The crash involved a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en‑route to London, which slammed into a building within 6 km of Ahmedabad airport, killing 260 people—241 on board and 19 on the ground. The only survivor was passenger Viswashkumar Ramesh from Leicester.
Investigators have carried out 49 of the 66 mandatory steps, including site inspection, wreckage analysis, flight‑recorder extraction, and crew record review. The preliminary report cited an abrupt move of fuel‑control switches to "cut‑off" moments after departure, causing engine starvation. While cockpit voice transcripts show one pilot questioning the other, the data does not pinpoint which pilot made the move.
Human‑factor work, a psychological autopsy of crew members, and a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder have been compiled. The AAIB’s affidavit suggests that media speculation about pilot accountability has impeded testimony from witnesses.
The report will not be released until an official publication is determined; no findings have yet been made public. The ongoing investigation continues to address safety, organisational culture and the circumstances of the fatal engine failure.
