Air India Ahmedabad crash draft report due in October, government tells Supreme Court

The government said AAIB’s draft final report into the June 12 crash of Air India flight AI-171 will be submitted in sealed cover in the first week of October. Four requested simulation tests have been completed; the Supreme Court will hear the matter on October 13.

— Source publishedWed, 29 Jul, 2026, 00:50 IST·First seen Wed, 29 Jul, 2026, 01:06 IST·Source ET Small Business

What happened

The government told the Supreme Court that AAIB’s draft final report into Air India flight AI-171’s Ahmedabad crash, which killed 260 people, will be filed in

Key facts

  • AI-171
  • Boeing 787-8
  • four simulation tests
  • 260 deaths
  • June 12, 2025
  • first week of October
  • October 13

Why this matters

Potential partners, lessors and suppliers will closely assess the report’s findings and Air India’s corrective actions before expanding strategic commitments.

What to watch

  • Whether the Supreme Court directs disclosure, an independent review, or further investigative steps after receiving the sealed report.
  • Any indication that the four completed simulations support or weaken theories involving pilot action, mechanical malfunction, maintenance, weather, air traffic control, or design factors.
  • DGCA enforcement actions, special audits, operational restrictions, training mandates, or aircraft-specific inspection requirements.
  • Statements from victims' families, pilot unions, lessors, insurers, Boeing, engine suppliers, or other potentially implicated parties.
  • Changes in Air India booking trends, cancellations, corporate-travel sentiment, insurance pricing, or fleet deployment following report-related coverage.
  • Air India is likely to prepare a legal, regulatory, employee, and customer communications plan ahead of the October 13 Supreme Court hearing.
  • The airline may accelerate visible safety actions such as additional pilot training, maintenance audits, cockpit-procedure reviews, and cooperation messaging with the AAIB and DGCA.
  • Management may reassess insurance reserves, litigation exposure, aircraft utilization, and contingency capacity if the report implies operational changes.
  • Tata Group and Air India may seek to separate immediate safety remediation from the broader transformation and privatization-era integration narrative.