AHMEDABAD– India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to submit the draft final report into the Air India (AI) Flight AI171 crash to the Supreme Court during the first week of October, marking the next major milestone in the investigation into one of the country’s deadliest aviation disasters.
The government informed the Supreme Court that the report will be presented in a sealed cover once completed.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash near Ahmedabad Airport (AMD) on June 12, 2025, claimed 260 lives shortly after the aircraft departed for London Gatwick Airport (LGW), prompting multiple legal petitions seeking an independent, court-monitored investigation.
Air India Probe Enters Final Phase
The development emerged during a hearing before a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana.
Representing the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the AAIB is on track to finalize its draft report in October.
The law officer also told the bench that the Federation of Indian Pilots is free to submit technical inputs to the AAIB during the investigation. Those submissions, he said, will be examined by investigators if they are considered relevant to the ongoing probe.
Mehta further disclosed that investigators have already completed four simulation tests requested through an application filed by one of the petitioners.
The findings from those simulations are expected to form part of the broader technical assessment leading to the final report.
Following the submissions, the Supreme Court scheduled the next hearing in the matter for October 13, when it is expected to consider the status of the investigation after reviewing the government’s sealed submission, The Hindu Business Line reported.
AAIB Investigation
The AAIB recently informed the court through an affidavit that the draft final report is expected to be ready in October after months of technical analysis and evidence collection.
Investigators have maintained that cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recordings and airborne image recordings cannot be disclosed to any outside committee or released publicly during the investigation. The bureau said such disclosures are prohibited under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025.
The agency argued that protecting sensitive investigation material is essential to preserving the integrity of the inquiry and complying with India’s legal framework governing aircraft accident investigations.
Earlier in the proceedings, the Supreme Court had directed the central government to provide a brief report explaining the procedural protocol followed by investigators after being informed that the inquiry was approaching its final stages.
AI 171 Crash Background
Air India Flight AI171 was operating a scheduled service from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick using a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The aircraft was commanded by Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, while First Officer Clive Kunder served as co-pilot.
The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, resulting in the deaths of 260 people, including passengers, crew members, and individuals on the ground. Among those killed was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
The accident became one of India’s most significant aviation investigations in recent history, drawing international attention because of the aircraft type involved and the scale of the tragedy.
With the draft final report expected in October, investigators are entering the final phase of determining the factors that led to the fatal crash.
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