The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has submitted its preliminary report on the Air India Flight 171 crash to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other concerned authorities on July 8, according to senior government officials.
The five-page report outlines key initial observations related to flight data, crew actions, prevailing weather conditions, and the mechanical performance of the aircraft, multiple government officials told Moneycontrol. The report shares early insights into the sequence of events leading up to the crash, which resulted in the deaths of at least 275 people.
On June 12, AI flight 171, which was scheduled to travel to London from Ahmedabad, crashed on a hostel building approximately 30 seconds after take off. The aircraft collided with a hostel complex at BJ Medical College, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. Among the victims was former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
According to the sources, the report documents technical findings from the crash wreckage, including the extent of damage to the aircraft’s engines and airframe—factors considered crucial to understanding the cause of the disaster.
The preliminary findings will also be shared with international regulatory and investigative bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the sources added.
As a signatory to the International Civil Aviation Organization conventions, India is obliged to submit a preliminary investigation report within 30 days of the accident, with the final report ideally completed and made public within 12 months.
While the exact contents of the report remain confidential until publication, aviation safety experts emphasise that such preliminary reports are crucial in guiding further investigative steps and enhancing safety measures to prevent future incidents.
The preliminary report also discloses the name of the investigator InCharge for the first time, government officials said. While the report does not identify the cause of the accident, it presents multiple cases on what could have led to the accident and presents data, rather than conclusions. The preliminary report will also serve as a foundation for identifying the root cause and recommending further safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The report also comes just hours before a crucial meeting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is scheduled for today, with top officials from the civil aviation ministry, including the civil aviation secretary and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), expected to appear.
The PAC, which is being lead by Congress’ K C Venugopal, will seek oral evidence from representatives of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Ltd (AAICLAS), Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and other concerned organisations, including airport operators and airlines, on the subject of "Levy and regulation of fees, tariffs, user charges etc. on public infrastructure and other public utilities."
The overall safety of the civil aviation sector is also likely to come up during the PAC’s discussions
Furthermore the, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on July 9 will hear the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation on the subject of "Overall review of safety in the civil aviation sector," according to the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. Janata Dal (United) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Jha-led panel's scheduled interaction with the Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary will come less than a month after the crash of Air India flight AI171.
Since the crash, the ministry of civil aviation has been assisting the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is conducting a full-scale investigation. The AAIB, operating from its lab in New Delhi and equipped with advanced technology, is leading the probe.
According to the ministry, the Crash Protection Module from one of the plane’s black boxes was retrieved and accessed by June 25, and data from it has been successfully downloaded. A source told ANI, an identical black box, referred to as a "golden chassis", was used to confirm whether the data could be accurately retrieved from the original black boxes.
The investigation team comprises experts from the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the U.S.-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Additionally, officials from Boeing, GE, aviation medicine specialists, and Air Traffic Control experts are involved. The inquiry is being conducted under international norms as laid out in ICAO Annex 13 and India’s Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017.
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