Preliminary report on Air India crash likely to be released this week

The aircraft, operating flight AI 171 to London Gatwick airport, crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport. While there are no tell-tale signs of what might have gone wrong with the aircraft, videos show that the plane could not maintain lift a few seconds after take-off, and was unable to climb beyond around 625 feet in altitude.

It is not clear how much light the preliminary report would shed on the causes of the accident. According to sources, it is expected to provide the sequence of events before the accident, a detailed description of the accident, and the steps so far in the investigation, along with any notable findings that may have come to light this far. But a more detailed identification and analysis of the most probable causes is expected over the coming months. Aircraft accident investigations can be extremely complex and time-consuming processes, taking months and in some cases even years to conclude. Aircraft accidents can result from a combination of multiple causes.

According to guidelines from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), investigators should release a preliminary report within 30 days of an air accident. However, Indian aviation experts pointed out that the country’s aircraft accident investigation rules have no such mandate and India is not bound to stick to the 30-day timeline for the preliminary report. However, given the global spotlight on this crash—the worst involving an Indian airline in at least four decades and the first fatal accident of the Boeing 787 aircraft globally—there is high likelihood of a preliminary report being released within the 30-day period. The final report should ideally be released within a year of the accident, and AAIB tries to adhere to that timeline.

The analysis of data from the black boxes of the ill-fated aircraft is being done at the AAIB’s new state-of-the-art laboratory in Delhi. The black boxes are critical in aircraft accident investigations as they provide data on scores on parameters and aircraft systems, helping the investigators identify the most likely causes of an accident.

The AAIB-led investigation is being assisted by representatives from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), plane maker Boeing, and engine manufacturer GE. An ICAO expert has also been given observer status in the investigation.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), following the June 12 crash, the AAIB promptly initiated an investigation and constituted a multi-disciplinary team. This team, constituted as per international protocol, is led by AAIB Director-General GVG Yugandhar, and includes an aviation medicine specialist, an air traffic control officer, and representatives from the NTSB. The NTSB is assisting the AAIB in the probe as the aircraft was designed and manufactured in the US by an American company—Boeing.