No delay in AI-171 crash probe, all probable causes being investigated: Govt

The government on Wednesday said there is no delay in the AAIB's final investigation report into the AI-171 crash, saying probes into major air crashes do not follow a fixed timeline. 

 

"There is no delay in the investigation. The timeline for a major accident investigation cannot be predicted, as it depends on several factors and is an evolving process involving multiple variables. The investigation is under progress. All probable causes and contributing factors leading to the accident are being investigated," Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu told the House.

 

Air India's flight AI-171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad in May 2025, killing all but one of the 261 persons on board. The reason for the cause is suspected to be the fuel cut-off switch moving from the 'on' to the 'off' position, resulting in a catastrophic loss of power. 

Is the AAIB's final report delayed?

The government rejected the claims that the AAIB had delayed its final investigation report into the AI-171 crash, saying probes into major air crashes do not follow a fixed timeline. 

 

"There is no delay in the investigation. The timeline for a major accident investigation cannot be predicted, as it depends on several factors and is an evolving process involving multiple variables. The investigation is under progress. All probable causes and contributing factors leading to the accident are being investigated," Mohol told the House.

 

The government said the final investigation report, containing all findings of the probe, will be made public and uploaded on the AAIB website after the investigation is completed.

When is the final report expected?

On July 14, the AAIB informed the Supreme Court that the draft final report was expected to be ready by October.

 

Meanwhile, earlier this month, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the government was making every effort to complete the investigation and release the final report at the earliest. He said the government had provided the AAIB with all necessary resources to carry out the investigation.

 

"The investigation is currently ongoing. We are making every effort to complete the investigation and get the final report as soon as possible. But we must be mindful that rushing the process could lead us away from the truth," Naidu said. 

 

The government said the final investigation report, containing all findings of the probe, will be made public and uploaded on the AAIB website after the investigation is completed.  

Investigation into grounded AI-132 plane ongoing

The government also told Parliament that investigators have found no abnormality in the fuel control switch locking mechanism of Air India flight AI-132 from London to Bengaluru, which was grounded in February this year after pilots reported a problem with the fuel cut-off controls. 

 

The plane, which was grounded for checks after the incident, reported the same problem as is suspected in the AI-171 crash in May last year that claimed all but one of the 261 persons on board. 

 

Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Mohol said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had ordered the examination as part of continuing airworthiness checks of the AI-132 aircraft.

 

The government's response comes as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) moves towards completing its probe into the June 12, 2025, crash of Air India flight AI-171, which was bound for London Gatwick. 

What did the examination of AI-132's fuel control switch find?

Mohol said the DGCA had directed the OEM-level examination as part of continuing airworthiness checks after the aircraft type was grounded in February this year.

 

A detailed examination of the fuel control switch, including the structural integrity of its locking detents, found no abnormality. "Inspection of the complete Thrust Control Module at the OEM's facility is underway," the minister said.

 

While the fuel control switch has been cleared of any defect so far, investigators are awaiting the outcome of the ongoing inspection of the complete thrust control module.