Air India Crash Probe Nears Final Stage Amid Cockpit Voice Recorder Review

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 16, 2026

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is nearing the completion of its probe into the Air India Boeing 787 crash that killed 260 people last year, with a draft report expected by October following final data analyses. The investigation’s outcome is crucial as it will address contested issues such as pilot actions and organizational factors, and will be reviewed by international bodies including the U.S. NTSB before release.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is nearing the conclusion of its inquiry into the Air India Boeing 787 crash that claimed 260 lives shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad last year, according to a recent court filing. The bureau has completed a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder and conducted a psychological autopsy, although details about whose psychological autopsy was performed or any related findings were not disclosed.

Investigators continue to await the analysis of data obtained from an engine monitoring unit recovered in late May. They are also assessing organizational elements linked to the crash, though further specifics were not provided. The AAIB has conducted extensive interviews with individuals connected to the flight, including Air India 787 pilots, crew members who previously worked with the pilots of the ill-fated aircraft, technical staff involved in the aircraft's maintenance and preparation, air traffic controllers, meteorological personnel, and human-factors specialists.

The bureau’s filing noted that family members of the flight crew were contacted at their homes during the early phase of the investigation. This outreach led to some controversy, particularly involving Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, the father of the flight captain. He alleged that investigators implied his son intentionally cut fuel to the plane’s engines after takeoff. Following this, Sabharwal initiated legal action that compelled the AAIB to reveal details of its ongoing probe in court.

The AAIB highlighted that media speculation and narratives that placed blame on the pilots have influenced witness cooperation, with some individuals becoming less forthcoming as a result. The investigation is now focused on analyzing operational, technical, human-factor, and organizational aspects of the crash to produce findings and conclusions.

The bureau anticipates completing the remaining investigation steps within approximately six weeks, contingent on pending "external dependencies." A draft of the final report is expected around October. This draft will then be circulated among relevant participating countries for review and comment before the report is finalized and made public.

Among the parties set to receive the draft report is the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Following the crash last year, U.S. officials had reported early assessments suggesting that cockpit voice recordings indicated the captain may have cut fuel flow to the engines. However, the AAIB stated at the time that it was premature to draw definite conclusions regarding this aspect of the investigation.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.