A year after the tragic Air India AI-171 crash, which claimed 260 lives on June 12, 2025, aviation officials are preparing to release only an interim report. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) confirmed that a final report will not be ready by the first anniversary of the incident, citing the intricate nature of the investigation.
Investigation Complexity Delays Final Air India Crash Report
The upcoming interim report is expected to be more comprehensive than the preliminary findings issued last July. According to sources quoted by Reuters, this new document will delve into the possible primary causes and other contributing factors to the crash.
The AAIB previously noted in its preliminary report that it was premature to draw definitive conclusions. However, it had highlighted that the Dreamliner’s engine fuel switches were flipped almost simultaneously shortly after the flight departed Ahmedabad for London, effectively starving the engines of fuel. This initial detail had sparked considerable concern.
Why Only an Interim Report?
The delay in the final Air India crash report stems from the investigation's sheer complexity and the time required to thoroughly analyze all evidence. The interim report will first be submitted to the government, with no clear timeline for when the definitive findings will be publicly released.
Another crucial reason for issuing an interim report is compliance with international aviation rules. If a final report cannot be completed within a year of an accident, investigators are mandated to provide an interim statement annually. Furthermore, releasing an interim report allows authorities to avoid sharing findings ahead of time with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is participating in the probe because the aircraft was designed and manufactured in the United States. The NTSB will have the opportunity to comment on the final report, aiming to provide comprehensive closure.
This approach is not unprecedented; for instance, Ethiopian investigators issued an interim report within a year of the March 2019 Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash, but the final report was not published until December 2022.