India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to publish its preliminary findings into the June 12 crash of Air India Flight 171—its first fatal Boeing 787‑8 accident since entering service. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said the report is being finalized “very soon”, with strong assurances from the Ministry that transparency and accountability will guide the process The Week+14The New Indian Express+14The Times of India+14.
What to Expect in the Preliminary Report
Under ICAO norms, a preliminary report is typically issued within 30 days of an accident—placing the deadline around mid-July The New Indian Express. The 15-page document will include:
- Aircraft details and maintenance history
- Crew roster and rest status
- Meteorological conditions and airport operations
- Flight timeline from roll to impact or recovery attempt
- Initial findings on mechanical behavior and black box data Navbharat Times+3News on Air+3India Today+3The Washington Post
Critically, it will also highlight components flagged for deeper analysis, such as engine systems and fuel switch assemblies.
Why the Industry Is Watching Closely
- Fuel-switch behavior in focus
The AAIB previously disclosed that both engine fuel-control switches moved from RUN to CUTOFF within seconds after liftoff, cutting engine thrust The Scottish Sun+3Wikipedia+3The Washington Post+3Navbharat Times+12The Guardian+12Financial Times+12. Aviation analysts anticipate the preliminary report will explore whether this was human error, mechanical malfunction, or software-induced anomaly. - Safety bulletin compliance
Boeing issued a 2018 FAA advisory bulletin regarding optional inspections of the Dreamliner’s fuel-switch locking mechanisms—inspections Air India reportedly did not perform The New Indian Express+8mint+8The Washington Post+8India Today+1India Today+1Wikipedia+2Financial Times+2The Week+2. The report may address whether non-compliance contributed to the accident sequence. - Pressure from stakeholders
- Pilots’ concerns: The Airline Pilots’ Association of India (ALPA‑India) has criticized the AAIB report as potentially biased toward pilot error, arguing the probe lacked transparency and failed to involve pilot experts The Times of India+6The New Indian Express+6Business Today+6ETTravelWorld.com+6ThePrint+6India Today+6.
- Victims’ families: Multiple families have demanded clarity and accountability, accusing authorities of launching a “cover-up” and calling for deeper insight into mechanical failures or procedural lapses The Times of India+8The Guardian+8The Times of India+8.
Authorities Urge Caution
Minister Naidu and the AAIB stress that the report is preliminary, not conclusive Wikipedia+14ThePrint+14The Economic Times+14. Passengers, media, and advocacy groups are being asked to await the final report, which will include full analysis of flight recorder data and complete system examinations—a process expected to take over a year .
Boeing has also pledged its support to the AAIB investigation, deferring technical commentary until formal findings are published India Today+2India Today+2India Today+2.
What Comes Next
- A thorough review of fuel-switch design and locking mechanisms—in line with FAA’s advisory bulletin—will be a focus point.
- ALPA-India is preparing legal action to gain observer status in the probe, highlighting the importance of pilot representation ThePrint+4India Today+4Financial Times+4.
- Indian regulators, along with the FAA, NTSB, and UK’s AAIB, are collaborating to ensure the final report meets global safety standards .
Final Word
The imminent release of the AAIB’s preliminary report will offer the first structured insights into what caused the tragic Air India 787‑8 crash near Ahmedabad. That said, substantial questions remain—regarding design decisions, procedural adherence, and potential human factors. Aviation Nexus will track updates closely, especially around new safety recommendations, design reviews, and findings in the forthcoming final report.
