India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has made significant progress in its probe into last year’s deadly Air India crash, preparing a cockpit voice recorder transcript and conducting a psychological autopsy. The investigation has entered its final stages, with the AAIB expecting to complete the remaining activities within six weeks, subject to pending external dependencies.
A draft final report is expected around October, which will be circulated to relevant participating countries, including the US National Transportation Safety Board, for comments before being finalised and published. The AAIB has interviewed numerous individuals, including Air India 787 pilots, crew members, technical personnel, air traffic controllers, weather officials, and human-factors specialists, as part of its investigation.
The families of the flight crew were also approached at their residences during the early stages of the investigation. However, the AAIB noted that media speculation and narratives attributing blame to the pilots had caused some witnesses to become restrictive and non-responsive. The investigation is now in the analysis phase, with findings and conclusions being drawn across operational, technical, human-factors, and organisational areas.
The crash of the Boeing 787 in Ahmedabad, India, killed 260 people shortly after takeoff. An analysis of data retrieved from an engine monitoring unit is still awaited, and an assessment of certain organisational factors remains in progress. The AAIB has not disclosed any findings on the crash, including the results of the psychological autopsy.
A court filing showed that the AAIB had prepared a cockpit voice recorder transcript, but did not disclose its contents. US officials’ early assessment reported by Reuters last year suggested that the cockpit recording supported the view that the captain cut the flow of fuel to the engines. However, the AAIB said at the time that it was too early to reach any definite conclusions.
The investigation has been ongoing for several months, with the AAIB working to determine the cause of the crash. The final report is expected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the events leading up to the tragedy.
