AAIB marks one year in Air India crash probe with no final report date

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has marked the first anniversary of the Air India crash with a statement confirming that significant progress has been made in the ongoing investigation. The disaster, which claimed the lives of 260 people, occurred on 12 June 2025 when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad en route to London. While the AAIB indicated that the final report will be released upon completion, it provided no specific timeline for its publication.

The bureau’s latest update highlighted the examination and analysis of aircraft systems, flight recorder data, engine-related components, and maintenance and operational records. These technical assessments form the core of the inquiry into the mechanical and operational factors surrounding the crash. The absence of a completion date underscores the complexity of the investigation, which involves detailed scrutiny of the aircraft’s systems and the operational context in which it was flying.

A preliminary report released in July 2025 established that fuel-control switches abruptly moved to the cut-off position seconds after take-off, causing total power loss. Cockpit audio recordings captured a dialogue in which one pilot asked the other why the fuel had been cut off, with the other denying responsibility. Investigators have not yet identified which pilot made either statement, leaving the sequence of events in the final moments of the flight unresolved.

Speculation intensified following reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, which suggested that evidence was shifting attention towards the senior pilot, Capt Sabharwal. These outlets cited unnamed sources indicating that cockpit recordings supported the view that the captain may have cut the fuel flow. Such claims have drawn sharp criticism from the Federation of Indian Pilots, led by president Charanvir Randhawa, which strongly rejected the suggestions and criticised the media coverage for potentially prejudicing the investigation.

The pilots’ union has formally requested that the AAIB not release an interim report, arguing that premature disclosures fuel speculation and misunderstanding, particularly regarding theories of pilot suicide. The union is urging investigators to obtain further technical data from Boeing and Air India to provide a more robust technical basis for any findings. The exact cause of the crash remains undetermined as the final report has not yet been released.