SOURCE: Reuters
Indian investigators are preparing an interim report into last year’s deadly Air India Boeing 787 crash rather than a final report, as authorities continue to examine the causes of the disaster that killed 260 people, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
The report, expected ahead of the June 12 anniversary of the crash, will provide a more detailed account than the preliminary findings released last July. It will examine possible primary causes as well as other contributing factors behind the accident, the source said.
The crash involved an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner travelling from Ahmedabad to London. The aircraft went down shortly after takeoff on June 12, 2025, marking the aviation industry’s deadliest disaster in more than a decade.
A preliminary 15-page report released last year revealed that the aircraft’s engine fuel switches were flipped almost simultaneously moments after takeoff, cutting fuel supply to both engines.
Early assessments by U.S. officials, previously reported by Reuters, indicated cockpit voice recordings suggested the captain may have shut off fuel flow to the engines.
However, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) cautioned at the time that it was “too early to reach any definite conclusions.”
According to the source, the investigation remains highly complex and requires more time before a final report can be completed.
“The final report will not be ready by the crash anniversary because it is a very complex investigation and is taking time,” the person said.
A second source familiar with the matter also confirmed that investigators were still working through evidence and analysis linked to the crash.
Under international aviation rules established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), countries are expected to release a final accident report within a year.
If investigations extend beyond that deadline, authorities are required to issue an interim statement on each anniversary of the accident.
The decision to release an interim report instead of a final one also affects the consultation process with international investigators. Because the Boeing 787 was designed and manufactured in the United States, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is participating in the investigation.
While the NTSB would ordinarily be allowed to review and comment on a draft final report, international rules do not require the same consultation process for interim statements.
Neither the AAIB, India’s civil aviation ministry nor Air India responded to requests for comment. AAIB chief GVG Yugandhar also did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment.
The final report is expected to provide more comprehensive conclusions and potentially offer greater closure to families of the victims once the investigation is complete.
