Parliament heard a crucial update today from Civil Aviation State Minister Murlidhar Mohol: The AAIB’s exhaustive review of Air India AI-171’s fatal plunge in Ahmedabad is progressing per ICAO standards, targeting all angles for a prompt resolution.
In Rajya Sabha, Mohol confirmed investigators are probing every lead in the June 12, 2025, tragedy that killed 260.
The July 12 preliminary report—available publicly—lays out evidence without interim fixes. It notes both engines of the Boeing 787 cut out when fuel switches hit ‘CUTOFF’ post-takeoff. Cockpit tapes show a pilot claiming no involvement, with switches returned to ‘RUN’ pre-impact.
The flight’s brief ascent ended in collision with a medical hostel, erasing 241 lives onboard and 19 ground casualties.
With a 12-month ICAO deadline, urgency mounts. Minister Naidu previously stressed awaiting the full picture.
This case exposes potential vulnerabilities in modern aircraft, from switch designs to crew responses under duress. As AAIB delves into metallurgy, simulations, and protocols, the aviation sector braces for reforms. Victims’ kin demand justice, and the ministry pledges answers that honor the lost by safeguarding tomorrow’s flights.