AAIB Confirms Air India Crash Draft Report by October, Cites Witness Intimidation from Media Narratives
More than a year after the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has informed the Supreme Court that it expects to complete its investigation within six weeks, with a draft final report likely by October. The update came in an affidavit filed ahead of a July 17 hearing on petitions demanding an independent investigation into the crash.
The AAIB stated that investigative activities, subject to resolution of pending external dependencies, are expected to be completed within six weeks. As per International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules, the draft report must first be shared with the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for comments, a process that may take 30 to 60 days.
The investigation is currently in the core fact-finding stage, involving evidence collection, technical and forensic examinations. The AAIB noted that investigators have interviewed witnesses including pilots, crew, and air traffic control personnel. However, the bureau acknowledged that media speculation attributing blame to the pilots has made some witnesses “restrictive and non-responsive”.
The AAIB also opposed demands for a court-monitored or parallel probe, arguing that the investigation follows international standards and applicable statutory frameworks, leaving no lacuna for additional oversight. The bureau confirmed it has completed 49 of 66 prescribed procedural steps for serious aircraft accident investigations.
