Air India Dreamliner crash probe nears draft report after year-long analysis

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) told the Supreme Court this week that a draft final report into the 12 June 2025 Air India Boeing 787 crash could be ready in October, after around six more weeks of analysis. The agency said it is engaged in the analysis phase but did not disclose findings or a public release date.

The aircraft crashed seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad airport en route to London, falling about 6 km from the runway and striking a medical college building used as doctors’ accommodation. A total of 260 people died — 241 on board and 19 on the ground — with one passenger, Viswashkumar Ramesh of Leicester, surviving.

In its affidavit the AAIB stated it has completed 49 of the 66 mandated investigation steps, including on-site wreckage examination, recovery of flight recorders, review of crew medical and training records, and preparation of a cockpit voice recorder transcript.

The bureau said a review of organisational culture, human factors and safety practices was undertaken, and that a psychological autopsy and evaluation were conducted; the psychologist’s final report has been received. The affidavit did not disclose details of the transcript or the psychologist’s conclusions.

The preliminary report published last July recorded that fuel-control switches abruptly moved to the cut-off position seconds after take-off, causing total engine power loss. Cockpit audio captured one pilot asking why the switches had been moved and the other replying he had not; the report did not identify which pilot spoke.

That ambiguity fuelled media speculation focusing on the senior pilot, Capt Sumeet Sabharwal, prompting public backlash from his family, pilots’ associations and the AAIB, which criticised some reporting as irresponsible. The AAIB said media narratives have made some witnesses restrictive and less responsive.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The nearing draft report marks a move from evidence collection to interpretation: investigators will now integrate technical, human factors and organisational findings to produce safety recommendations. For the aviation sector, the outcome could prompt regulatory reviews of cockpit procedures, crew training and psychological screening practices, and influence airline safety audits worldwide.

For the public and families, a clearer timeline toward a draft report can reduce uncertainty but also risks renewed scrutiny and legal challenges if the findings suggest human factors. Transparent communication of methodology and limitations will be essential to preserve confidence in the investigation’s integrity.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• AAIB expects a draft final report on the 12 June 2025 Air India Boeing 787 crash could be ready in October after completing analysis.
• The crash killed 260 people; only one passenger survived.
• Investigators have completed 49 of 66 mandated steps, recovered recorders, prepared a CVR transcript, and received a psychologist’s final report.