One year after Air India flight AI-171 crashed near Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on 12 June 2025, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has confirmed the probe remains ongoing — but offered no new technical conclusions, drawing sharp criticism from legal representatives of the 260 victims' families.

What the AAIB Anniversary Statement Said

The AAIB issued an interim statement on Friday, 13 June 2025, marking the first anniversary of the Boeing 787-8 accident on the Ahmedabad–London Gatwick route. The bureau said significant progress had been made in examining aircraft systems, flight recorder data, engine-related components, maintenance records, and operational evidence.

However, the agency stopped short of releasing any new technical findings or conclusions. According to the AAIB, all evidence gathered over the past year is being analysed in a 'comprehensive and integrated manner,' with further specialist examinations to be carried out wherever necessary. The final report will be published only after all investigative activities, international review, and consultation processes required under ICAO Annex 13 have been completed.

The bureau also urged media and the public to refrain from speculation while the investigation is in progress, reiterating that the purpose of accident investigation is to improve aviation safety — not to assign blame or liability.

Lawyer Representing Families: 'No New Information'

Aviation lawyer Mike Andrews, who represents more than 135 affected families through the US-based Beasley Allen Law Firm, said the statement offered nothing substantive to grieving relatives.

'The interim statement that was released today did not contain any new technical or factual information. The statement indicates that the AAIB investigation is continuing with technical evaluation and analysis. While we wait for the board to release the results of its findings, we continue to push forward with our own research and evaluation,' Andrews said.

This comes amid growing frustration among families who had anticipated a final report around the crash's first anniversary — a timeline that investigators have now confirmed will not be met.

What Is Known: Key Findings from the Preliminary Report

A preliminary report released by the AAIB in July 2024 established that both engine fuel control switches moved from the 'RUN' position to 'CUTOFF' shortly after take-off, cutting fuel supply to both engines simultaneously. The report documented cockpit confusion following the event but did not determine how or why the switches moved.

Investigators continue to examine technical, operational, and human factors associated with the accident. The complexity of the investigation — particularly unfinished examination of engine-related evidence — has been cited as the primary reason for the delay.

The Crash: What Happened on 12 June 2025

Flight AI-171 went down less than a minute after departing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on a scheduled service to London Gatwick. Of the 242 people on board, 241 died. An additional 19 people on the ground were also killed, bringing the total death toll to 260. It is among the deadliest aviation accidents in recent Indian history.

What Happens Next

The AAIB has reaffirmed its commitment to a thorough, independent, and evidence-based investigation, stating that every aspect of the accident will be examined before final conclusions and safety recommendations are published. No revised timeline for the final report has been indicated. Families and their legal representatives say they will continue parallel investigations while awaiting the bureau's findings.