Air India Boeing crash: India delays final conclusions as the first anniversary of the tragedy approaches

Just weeks before the first anniversary of the deadly crash of an Air India Boeing 787, Indian authorities are continuing their investigations and preparing an interim report rather than a final one, according to a source close to the case. The disaster, which occurred on June 12, 2025, claimed 260 lives and left a lasting mark on the global aviation industry.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India (AAIB) is currently working on a document described as more detailed than the preliminary report published last July. This interim report is expected to examine the possible main causes of the accident as well as other contributing factors, while investigators believe they still need time before reaching definitive conclusions.

The aircraft, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flying from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff. The initial fifteen-page investigation report revealed that the fuel supply switches for both engines had tripped almost simultaneously, rapidly depriving the aircraft of thrust.

According to an initial assessment by US authorities reported last year by Reuters, the cockpit voice recorder appeared to support the hypothesis that the captain had cut off the engine fuel supply. However, the French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) considered at the time that it was premature to draw definitive conclusions.

The investigation also involves US authorities, particularly the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), since the Boeing 787 was designed and manufactured in the United States. However, by publishing an interim report rather than a final one, Indian authorities are not required to submit their findings to the NTSB beforehand.

This procedure could nevertheless raise questions among the victims' families, who are still waiting for precise answers about the circumstances of the tragedy. The NTSB will, however, be able to make observations when the final report is published, which could help strengthen the international credibility of the investigation's findings.

The Air India crash remains the deadliest air disaster in the world in a decade, and continues to fuel debates about the safety of control systems and procedures on board modern long-haul aircraft.