Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash Probe Still Ongoing, AAIB Rejects Claims Blaming Pilot

New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has clarified that the investigation into the Air India Flight AI-171 crash, which occurred in June 2025 in Ahmedabad, is still underway and no final conclusion has been reached so far.

The AAIB strongly dismissed recent claims circulating on social media and in certain reports suggesting that the investigation has been completed and that the pilot has been held responsible for the tragedy.

AAIB Urges Public to Avoid Speculation

In an official statement, AAIB said that the probe is still in progress and warned against making premature assumptions. The agency emphasized that unverified speculation can create unnecessary anxiety among the public and may undermine the integrity of the investigation process.

“Investigations are evidence-based and technical in nature. No final findings have been established at this stage,” AAIB stated.

Final Investigation Report Yet to be Published

AAIB noted that the investigation is being conducted strictly under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, and in accordance with India’s international responsibilities under ICAO Annex 13.

The bureau explained that an initial preliminary report released in July 2025 only included verified facts available at that time. The final report, which will contain the official conclusions and safety recommendations, will be published only after the investigation is fully completed.

Pilot Blame Theory Called Baseless

The clarification comes amid reports published in foreign media, including an Italian daily newspaper, which claimed—citing unnamed sources—that investigators had concluded the crash was caused by a deliberate act rather than a technical failure. The report alleged that the captain, Sumit Sabharwal, was the primary suspect, and that US experts involved in the probe considered the findings a major breakthrough.

AAIB categorically rejected these claims, stating that such reports are based on speculation and are not supported by verified evidence.

Crash Killed 260 People

Air India’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner reportedly crashed just seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport, resulting in the deaths of 260 people. The victims included passengers as well as individuals staying in a medical students’ hostel, where the aircraft reportedly crashed.

AAIB reiterated that the primary purpose of such investigations is not to assign blame, but to identify the real causes behind the incident and strengthen aviation safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.