The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has informed the Supreme Court that the draft final report into the June 12, 2025 Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad is expected to be ready by October 2026.
The bureau also told the court that cockpit voice recordings and other sensitive investigation material cannot be shared with any outside agency or the public due to legal restrictions.
In an affidavit filed before the apex court, the AAIB said the release of cockpit voice recorder audio, airborne image recordings and other protected investigative records is prohibited under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025.
According to the bureau, disclosing such material would violate statutory provisions designed to safeguard the integrity of aircraft accident investigations.
The agency further stated that the investigation is being carried out under internationally accepted norms laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). It said the probe is not merely a domestic inquiry but an internationally governed investigation conducted under the Chicago Convention, with participation from countries connected to the aircraft’s registration, operation, design and manufacture.
The AAIB emphasised that the primary objective of the investigation is to improve aviation safety and prevent similar accidents in the future. It clarified that accident investigations are not intended to assign criminal or civil liability or determine blame.
On the progress of the inquiry, the bureau said most investigative activities are expected to be completed within the next six weeks, subject to the receipt of pending external inputs. Once the analysis is complete, the draft final report is likely to be prepared by October 2026.
The affidavit also reiterated that witness statements, cockpit voice recorder transcripts, air traffic control communications, medical records and other confidential evidence cannot be disclosed while the investigation is underway, as doing so could compromise both the present inquiry and future aviation safety investigations.
The Air India AI-171 crash claimed 260 lives, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members and 19 people on the ground. The Boeing aircraft, which was operating from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after take-off into the hostel building of BJ Medical College, located close to the airport.
The matter is being heard by the Supreme Court in petitions filed by Pushkaraj Sabharwal, the 91-year-old father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who was commanding the aircraft, and the Federation of Indian Pilots.
The petitioners have sought a court-monitored investigation led by a retired Supreme Court judge.
During an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had observed that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal should not be blamed for the tragedy and told his father not to carry that burden.
In his petition, Pushkaraj Sabharwal has sought what he described as a fair, transparent and technically sound investigation, arguing that identifying the exact cause of the crash is essential for ensuring passenger safety.
The plea also raises concerns over the reported failure of the aircraft’s Emergency Locator Transmitter to activate during the accident.
However, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal and co-pilot Captain Clive Kunder were among those who lost their lives in the crash.
