India's AAIB Sets October 2026 Target for Air India AI-171 Final Report

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has told the Supreme Court that its draft final report on the Air India Flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad is expected in October 2026. In a recent affidavit, the bureau said the investigation has entered its final analysis phase, with approximately six weeks of work remaining pending external inputs.

International Review and Technical Delays

The AAIB said the draft report will be circulated to participating international agencies — including the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) — for comment, as required under ICAO Annex 13. That international consultation process must be completed before a public final report can be issued. The timeline has been extended due to unfinished analysis of the aircraft's engines, which were transported to the United States for detailed examination.

Confidentiality and Safety Mandates

The AAIB has declined to release cockpit voice recordings or other sensitive evidentiary materials, citing confidentiality obligations under ICAO safety investigation norms. The bureau stressed that the probe is a safety investigation — not a criminal proceeding — and warned that media speculation about pilot error has already hampered witness cooperation. Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu recently told the Rajya Sabha the investigation is progressing at a "very good pace" and is being conducted professionally.