Families still await answers one year after Ahmedabad's AI-171 crash

Highlights:

• Families are still waiting for the final crash report.
• The disaster killed 260 people in June last year.
• The cause of the crash remains unclear.
• Victims' families want flight data released.
• Pilots' body urges a complete investigation.

One year after the Air India flight AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad, families of the victims are still waiting to learn what caused the disaster that claimed 260 lives.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released an interim report in July last year, but it did not identify the cause of the crash. A section of the report suggested that the aircraft's engine fuel switches were cut off shortly after takeoff.

For many families, the lack of a final report has made the grieving process even more difficult. They continue to remember their loved ones while struggling with unanswered questions about the tragedy.

Under international aviation rules, authorities are expected to release a final accident report within a year if possible. If the investigation is not completed within that time, an interim statement can be issued instead.

On May 8, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said the investigation was in its final stage and a report could be released within a month.

Mourners pay tribute to Air India Flight 171 plane crash victim Vijay Rupani, former Gujarat chief minister, at the crash site on the first anniversary of the disaster in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2026. India's aviation accident probe agency is facing renewed criticism from pilot groups ahead of the anniversary of the 2025 Air India Boeing-787 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people. Getty Images

"The crash investigation is in the final stage and could even be completed in a month. However, the investigation is being done by the AAIB and we don't interfere in it. We are giving them all the resources they need," he said.

The Federation of Indian Pilots has urged investigators to complete a thorough probe before releasing any final findings.

Its president, C. S. Randhawa, warned against issuing another interim report without a clear conclusion.

"If there is no conclusion from the investigation, releasing an interim report will only lead to more misunderstandings," he said.

The London-bound AI-171 flight crashed on June 12 last year, just 32 seconds after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport in Ahmedabad. The aircraft struck a hostel complex of BJ Medical College.

The crash killed 241 passengers and crew members on board and 19 people on the ground. Only one passenger survived.

Former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani was among those who lost their lives in the accident.

Families have also been demanding greater transparency in the investigation. Mike Andrews, a lawyer from US-based law firm Beasley Allen, which represents more than 130 victim families from India and the United Kingdom, has called for the release of the flight's technical data.

Lindy Cameron, British high commissioner to India, gestures during a prayer meeting in memory of Air India Flight 171 plane crash victims at BJ Medical College on the first anniversary of the disaster in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2026. India's aviation accident probe agency is facing renewed criticism from pilot groups ahead of the anniversary of the 2025 Air India Boeing-787 crash in Ahmedabad, which killed 260 people. Getty Images

"I appeal to the Indian government to release the FDR (Flight Data Recorder) data so that our experts can conduct an independent evaluation. I think the most important thing these families can have is transparency," Andrews told PTI.

He added that any future legal action would depend on what the investigation and technical data reveal.

"Legal options, such as a product liability suit to be filed in the US, are based on the data we get and what investigations reveal," he had said.

In April this year, families of 30 victims from across Gujarat wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the release of Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) data and black box information. They also requested that the investigation be completed as soon as possible.

As the first anniversary of the crash passes, many families remain focused on finding the truth behind one of India's deadliest aviation disasters and finally getting the answers they have been waiting for.