AI171 investigation: what we know about the final report timeline

Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787 bound for London, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad in June 2025. It was one of the worst disasters in Indian aviation history, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected.

Where the investigation stood in July 2026

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) told the Supreme Court in July 2026 that:

• The investigation had entered its final analytical stage.
• The draft final report would be ready around October 2026.
• Investigators had completed a full cockpit voice recorder (CVR) transcript, interviewed pilots and crew who had flown with the flight crew, examined dispatch and maintenance staff, and spoken to air traffic controllers, weather officials and human factors specialists.
• The CVR transcript would remain confidential as protected investigative material.

Why the final report takes time

International rules for accident investigation are set out in ICAO Annex 13. Under it:

1. The investigating state prepares a draft final report.
2. The draft goes confidentially to accredited participants, such as the state of design and manufacture (here, the US NTSB), for comments.
3. Only after considering those comments is the final report published, with safety recommendations.

The purpose of an Annex 13 investigation is to prevent future accidents, not to assign blame.

A note on speculation

The preliminary report of July 2025 described the sequence of events in limited detail. Since then, many claims based on unnamed sources have circulated. Until the final report is published, treat them with caution.

What every trainee pilot can take from this

Investigations look across technical, operational, organisational and human factors. That is the same structure taught in Human Performance and Limitations and in safety management. Understanding how accidents are investigated, and why reports focus on lessons rather than blame, is part of becoming a professional pilot.