New Delhi: A year after the devastating crash of Air India Flight 171, investigators are expected to delay the release of the final accident report as crucial analysis of the aircraft’s engines remains unfinished.
The Boeing 787 aircraft crashed moments after taking off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, resulting in the deaths of 260 people. Of the 242 individuals on board, only one survived, while 19 people on the ground were also killed when the aircraft struck buildings at the B.J. Medical College campus. Among those who lost their lives was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
Instead of publishing a final report on the first anniversary of the tragedy, investigators are likely to issue a status update explaining the reasons for the delay. The probe has focused heavily on the aircraft’s GE Aerospace engines, which remain under detailed examination.
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. The change interrupted fuel supply to both engines, leading to a catastrophic loss of power during the critical climb phase.
Investigators have continued to examine multiple aspects of the accident over the past year. Engine testing was conducted in April, while teams travelled to France in May to analyse the aircraft’s engine management unit. The engines have also been sent to the United States for further technical examination, a process that remains ongoing.
Under international aviation guidelines, accident investigators are expected to release a final report within a year of a major incident. However, complex investigations can take longer, in which case authorities are required to provide an interim statement outlining the progress of the inquiry.
Current indications suggest that the final report could be completed within the next three months once all engine-related analyses are concluded.
The crash remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s history. The lone survivor, Vishwarkumar Ramesh, emerged from the wreckage in extraordinary circumstances, while families of the victims continue to await definitive answers about the causes of the tragedy.