Air India Crash Report Nears Completion
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has indicated that the final report on the Air India crash, which resulted in the tragic loss of 260 lives, is anticipated to be ready by October. The investigation into the crash, which occurred last June, is presently in its analysis phase, according to a statement submitted to the Supreme Court by the AAIB.
The affidavit, filed recently, did not specify when the findings would be publicly disclosed but confirmed that the analysis phase should be concluded within approximately six weeks. The incident took place on 12 June 2025, when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London, crashed shortly after leaving Ahmedabad airport in western India.
Details of the Crash
The plane went down about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the airport, colliding with a building used for doctors' accommodation at a medical college. The impact caused a massive explosion, resulting in the death of 241 passengers and crew members aboard, along with 19 individuals on the ground. Remarkably, only one passenger, Viswashkumar Ramesh from Leicester, survived the crash.
Following the crash, the AAIB initiated an investigation and released a preliminary report within a month. On the first anniversary of the crash, the AAIB stated that substantial progress had been made in analyzing evidence, although detailed updates were scarce.
Progress in the Investigation
The affidavit mentions that 49 out of the 66 required steps for investigating a major aircraft accident have been completed. This encompasses examining the crash site, analyzing the wreckage, gathering evidence including flight recorders, and reviewing pertinent records such as the crew members' medical and training histories.
Additionally, the AAIB conducted a review of organisational culture, human factors, and safety practices. A psychological autopsy and evaluation were carried out, with the psychologist’s final report already received. This suggests that the investigation included an assessment of the psychological profiles of one or more crew members.
Preliminary Findings and Speculations
The preliminary report disclosed that moments after take-off, fuel-control switches unexpectedly shifted to the "cut-off" position, cutting the engines’ fuel supply and causing total power loss. Cockpit audio recordings captured an exchange between the pilots questioning the unexpected switch movement. However, the report did not specify which pilot made the statements.
This ambiguity has led to speculation regarding the pilots' involvement in the crash, with some foreign media outlets suggesting a focus on the senior pilot, Capt Sumeet Sabharwal. These reports prompted criticism from Sabharwal’s family, Indian pilots' associations, and the AAIB, which condemned such media coverage.
In response to a lawsuit by Sabharwal's father seeking an independent investigation, the AAIB stated that media narratives attributing blame to the pilots have adversely affected witness responsiveness and cooperation.
Source: Original Article
