GURUGRAM- Air India (AI) operated Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad Airport (AMD) on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people.
The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has asked Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu for formal representation if an independent committee is created to review the draft final investigation report.
FIP Seeks Representation in AI-171 Crash Report Review
The Federation of Indian Pilots wrote to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on September 25, requesting representation in any independent mechanism established to examine the draft final investigation report into the Air India AI-171 crash.
FIP said it had learned that the government or Civil Aviation Ministry had directed, or was considering requiring, the draft report to undergo review by an independent committee before it is circulated or finalised. The organisation asked to be formally nominated if such a mechanism is constituted.
The request comes as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) prepares the draft final report following more than a year of investigation into the Ahmedabad crash.
What Happened to Air India Flight AI-171
Air India Flight AI-171 was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that crashed in Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025. The accident killed 260 people, according to reports on the investigation and subsequent developments.
The investigation is being conducted by the AAIB, the agency responsible for examining aircraft accidents and serious incidents in India. The preparation of the draft final report represents a key stage in the investigation process.
The report has not yet been publicly finalised. The Centre told the Supreme Court in July that the AAIB was expected to complete the investigation within six weeks and that a draft final report would be ready by October.
Why FIP Wants Pilot Experts Involved
FIP said the investigation should involve experienced pilots, engineers and aviation medicine specialists as subject matter experts.
The pilots’ body has argued that specialist aviation expertise is important when examining a Boeing 787 accident. It said technical points raised by an independent professional pilots’ federation should be objectively considered before the draft report reaches its final stage.
FIP also asked for relevant technical observations to be examined and, where appropriate, incorporated into the investigation record. Its request focuses on adding professional pilot representation to the review process rather than replacing the statutory investigation being conducted by the AAIB.
How the Draft Report Will Be Reviewed
The Centre has said the draft investigation report cannot be released immediately after preparation because international aviation investigation procedures require consultation with participating states.
According to the government’s explanation to the Supreme Court, the International Civil Aviation Organization framework and the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025 require the draft report to be circulated to relevant states for significant and substantiated comments.
For the AI-171 investigation, the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board is the accredited representative of the state associated with the aircraft’s design and manufacture. The consultation period could take between 30 and 60 days, depending on the complexity of the responses, the Centre said.
What Happens Before the Final Report
The preparation of a draft report does not automatically make its findings final. The consultation process allows participating states to review relevant sections and submit substantive technical comments before the investigation is completed.
Any additional independent review mechanism would therefore operate alongside the established investigation and consultation framework if the government decides to constitute one.
As of the latest reports, FIP is seeking confirmation of its participation and formal representation in any proposed independent review committee. The government has not been reported as having publicly confirmed the final composition or terms of such a committee.
Key Points in the Air India AI-171 Crash Investigation
- Flight: Air India AI-171
- Airline: Air India (AI)
- Aircraft: Boeing 787 Dreamliner
- Airport: Ahmedabad Airport (AMD)
- Accident date: June 12, 2025
- Fatalities: 260
- Investigation agency: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)
- Pilots’ organisation seeking representation: Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP)
- Draft report status: Under preparation
- International review: Relevant participating states can submit significant and substantiated comments under the applicable framework.
What to Watch Next
The next significant steps are the completion of the AAIB draft final report, any decision on an independent technical review mechanism, and the subsequent consultation process with participating states.
FIP’s request has placed professional pilot representation among the issues being discussed as the investigation moves toward the draft-report stage. The final findings will depend on the completed investigation and the applicable review and consultation process.
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