AI171 Crash Probe: AAIB Faces First-Anniversary Deadline as Pilots Seek Judicial Inquiry

June 12, 2026 marks one year since Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, came down moments after taking off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. The accident killed 260 people, including 19 on the ground after the aircraft struck a hostel building, with only one passenger surviving. Under international aviation rules, the one-year mark is when the country leading an investigation is expected to share its findings with the public.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the body that probes air crashes in India, had narrowed its early focus to the aircraft's two engine fuel control switches, which moved from the 'RUN' to the 'CUTOFF' position within a second of each other just after the plane lifted off. This starved both engines of fuel. How the switches changed position remains the central unanswered question. The detailed analysis of the engines, being carried out in the United States with help from American investigators, is still pending, and the final report may take several more months.

The rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) say the final report should ideally come within twelve months. If it cannot, the investigating country must release a public interim statement on each anniversary, explaining the progress made and any safety issues found. This is why attention has turned to what the AAIB will put out around June 12, 2026.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the AAIB not to release any interim report, arguing that incomplete findings could spark rumours and unfair speculation rather than provide clarity. The pilots' body has approached the Supreme Court and made repeated representations to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, also demanding a judicial inquiry. It has questioned the decision to send the engines abroad and asked investigators to examine whether an electrical disturbance could have affected the aircraft's systems. The cause of the crash has not been officially established, and no conclusion about fault should be drawn until the full investigation is complete.

For aspirants, this episode is a clear example of how India's aviation safety system works: the AAIB investigates the cause of accidents to improve safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the regulator that oversees airworthiness and licensing, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation sits above both. Understanding the difference between an investigating agency and a regulator, and the role of ICAO standards, is valuable for both polity and current-affairs sections.