Air India AI-171 Probe: US Aviation Safety Group Alleges AAIB Ignored Hundreds of Documents on System Failures in Reports
A US-based aviation safety organization has accused India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of failing to maintain transparency in its probe into the fatal Air India Flight AI-171 crash, alleging that key technical documents detailing potential aircraft malfunctions have been omitted from public investigation reports.
A US-based aviation safety organization has accused India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of failing to maintain transparency in its probe into the fatal Air India Flight AI-171 crash, alleging that key technical documents detailing potential aircraft malfunctions have been omitted from public investigation reports.
In a letter dated August 27, 2026, addressed to AAIB Director General G. V. G. Yugandhar, the Foundation for Aviation Safety (FAS) expressed serious concerns over the investigation process. FAS Executive Director Ed Pierson stated that the foundation transmitted hundreds of non-public official documents regarding the involved aircraft (registration VT-ANB) to the AAIB via a UK accident investigation expert. Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Families of Air India Flight 171 Crash Victims Demand Clear Timeline for Final Report.
According to Pierson, the submitted documents outline chronic and systemic failures in the aircraft’s electrical, electronic, and flight computer systems prior to the tragedy, which killed 260 people on June 12, 2025.
The US safety watchgroup asserted that the AAIB breached International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 guidelines—which mandate the gathering, recording, and analysis of all relevant evidence—by failing to acknowledge these documents in its Preliminary or Interim reports. The letter also alleged that data streams from the aircraft's ACARS and Aircraft Health Monitoring (AHM) systems showed specific system failures leading up to the crash, none of which have been publicly disclosed.
Furthermore, Pierson claimed that the AAIB has refrained from issuing interim safety recommendations or warnings to global aviation authorities despite holding evidence of system flaws, suggesting the probe appears inclined toward assigning blame to a pilot. Responding to earlier communications, the AAIB refuted claims of impropriety in a statement dated August 26, 2026. The bureau confirmed it had received the technical inputs via the UK expert in June 2026 and affirmed that the material was actively being reviewed. Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Air India AI-171 Probe Still Underway, Final Report to Be Released After Investigation, Says AAIB.
The AAIB maintained that its probe complies strictly with the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, and ICAO Annex 13 international protocols. The agency emphasized that all factual evidence is currently available to its investigation team and is being examined fairly and impartially. The final report on the Air India AI-171 disaster remains pending as the official investigation continues.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 17, 2026 04:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).