Air India Crash Investigation Likely to Extend Beyond First Anniversary

Indian aviation investigators are expected to delay the publication of a final report into the Air India Boeing 787 crash that killed 260 people, as authorities continue a detailed examination of the aircraft’s engines and related systems.

The Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, becoming the deadliest aviation disaster in a decade and the first fatal accident involving Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered service in 2011.

According to a source familiar with the investigation, officials require additional time to complete technical analysis of the aircraft’s GE Aerospace engines before reaching definitive conclusions. The source said investigators conducted engine testing in April and traveled to France last month as part of an examination of the aircraft’s engine management unit.

The development means a final report is unlikely to be released by Friday, the first anniversary of the crash. Under international aviation guidelines, accident investigators are expected to publish a final report within a year. When that is not possible, authorities typically issue an interim statement outlining progress in the investigation.

A preliminary report released last year revealed that the aircraft’s engine fuel control switches moved almost simultaneously from the “RUN” position to “CUTOFF” shortly after takeoff, cutting fuel supply to both engines and leading to a loss of power.

The findings placed significant attention on the aircraft’s engine systems and cockpit actions. Investigators have continued examining whether technical issues, operational factors or other circumstances contributed to the sequence of events that led to the crash.

Questions surrounding pilot actions have also remained a focus of the investigation. Earlier assessments reported by international media cited cockpit voice recordings that appeared to support the possibility that fuel flow to the engines had been interrupted from the flight deck. However, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) previously cautioned that it was too early to draw firm conclusions.

The family of the aircraft’s captain has called for an independent review that considers alternative causes beyond deliberate pilot action. Meanwhile, the Federation of Indian Pilots has urged authorities to obtain additional technical data from Boeing and Air India, arguing that more evidence is needed before any conclusions regarding pilot responsibility are reached.

The preliminary report did not issue any safety recommendations to Boeing or GE Aerospace, suggesting investigators had not identified technical faults at that stage of the inquiry.

The crash dealt a major setback to Air India’s ongoing transformation efforts following its privatization. The airline has also faced challenges from global supply chain disruptions, regional geopolitical tensions and airspace restrictions affecting operations.

Officials are now expected to release an interim update while technical examinations continue, with a final report anticipated once all engine analyses have been completed.