Air India Flight 171 crash: One year on, timeline of the probe and court battle
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One year after Air India Flight 171 crashed violently, killing 260 people, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has confirmed a delay in its final report, issuing only a second interim statement on the anniversary. This protracted probe continues to spark intense friction, with the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) renewing its call for a judicial inquiry, alleging an undue focus on pilot error over potential technical malfunctions in the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The ongoing analysis of the aircraft's GE Aerospace GEnx engines in the United States remains a critical bottleneck, leaving families and the aviation community clamoring for definitive answers. The preliminary report, released just a month after the June 12, 2025 disaster, controversially highlighted that both engine fuel control switches transitioned from 'RUN' to 'CUTOFF' moments after takeoff, cutting fuel supply to the engines. However, the report refrained from assigning blame, a void quickly filled by speculation that the FIP and the family of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal vehemently reject, pointing instead to unaddressed electrical system failures and Air India's maintenance record. With the FIP having escalated their concerns to the Supreme Court of India, the stakes now include the credibility of national aviation regulators and the future of aviation safety protocols in India, especially given the extensive compensation efforts by Air India and its parent, the Tata Group. As the investigation stretches past the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) recommended one-year timeline for final reports, all eyes are on the engine analysis, which Bloomberg suggests could conclude within three months. This period will be crucial, potentially confirming or disproving the pilots' assertions of systemic issues and determining whether the Supreme Court intervenes. The outcome will not only bring closure to grieving families but also set precedents for investigative transparency and accountability within India's rapidly expanding aviation sector.