Air India AI-171 crash investigation nears final report, draft due October 2026

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has completed a cockpit‑voice‑recorder transcript and a psychological autopsy, moving the probe of the June 2022 AI‑171 Boeing 787 crash into its analysis phase. The bureau expects to finish remaining investigative work within about six weeks and to issue a draft final report by October 2026, after which it will be circulated to participating countries for comment. The United States National Transportation Safety Board and the United Kingdom’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch are among the international agencies involved.

The AAIB has opposed petitions before the Supreme Court seeking a parallel inquiry and public disclosure of the cockpit recordings, citing statutory confidentiality rules that protect investigation material. Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu reiterated that the final report will be released “very soon” and emphasized the priority of establishing the factual cause over speed of publication. Families of victims, including the captain’s father, have called for transparency, but the bureau maintains that protecting witness candour is essential for aviation safety.

The investigation, conducted under ICAO and Chicago Convention frameworks, aims to prevent future accidents rather than assign blame. The draft report’s deadline and the bureau’s stance on disclosure are expected to shape ongoing legal and safety discussions worldwide.