Over the past year, the AAIB and the Ministry of Civil Aviation have largely remained tight-lipped about the probe, apart from releasing a preliminary report and issuing statements to clarify or rebut reports based on alleged leaks in foreign media.
The investigation into the deadly crash of Air India flight AI 171 has not concluded yet and is continuing in accordance with Indian and global standards, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu posted on social media platform X on the first anniversary of one of India’s worst aviation disasters. Naidu’s comment is being seen as a confirmation that the world will have to wait longer for the final investigation report on the Boeing 787-8 crash.
There were indications that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) might not be able to furnish the full investigation report by the accident’s first anniversary, and the agency or the government could instead issue an interim report or even just a status update on the accident’s anniversary. According to officials in the know, the final report may be delayed by a few months as the detailed technical analysis of the ill-fated aircraft’s engines is yet to be completed.
“Today, as we mark one year since the tragic Air India Flight AI-171 accident, we remember with profound sorrow those who lost their lives and extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones. The investigation continues with diligence and professionalism in accordance with established national and international procedures. We remain committed to a thorough and objective determination of the causes of the accident and to further enhancing aviation safety,” Naidu posted on X.
International guidelines prescribe that final reports in air crash probes should be released within a year of the accident, if possible. If the final report is not ready for release within a year, the “State conducting the investigation shall make an interim statement publicly available on each anniversary of the occurrence, detailing the progress of the investigation and any safety issues raised,” says the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 13, which lists international standards and recommended practices for aircraft accident investigations.
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