The investigation into the tragic Air India flight AI-171 crash on June 12 is progressing, with a preliminary report expected soon. The crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulted in the deaths of 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew, and 19 on the ground.

Focus of the Investigation

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from the U.S.-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other foreign experts. A recent report indicates that the investigation has narrowed its focus to the movement of the engine fuel control switches. Aviation experts suggest that a possible scenario could be pilot error, where one of the pilots may have accidentally switched off the fuel supply to the incorrect engine after a single-engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Black Box Analysis and Aircraft Reconstruction

Both black boxes from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the cockpit voice recorder and the digital flight data recorder, were recovered intact and are undergoing detailed analysis. The AAIB, in collaboration with the NTSB, is decoding the data and synchronizing it with the aircraft's final communication with the Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control. In an unprecedented move, the wreckage of the aircraft has been moved to a secure site near Ahmedabad airport, where a partial reconstruction of the Dreamliner is underway. This reconstruction aims to analyze the physical damage and cross-reference it with the decoded black box data.

Preliminary Report and Timeline

The AAIB is expected to release its preliminary report this week, within 30 days of the accident. The report will provide initial findings of the probe and offer the first official explanation for the crash. The AAIB has briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on the ongoing investigation, explaining the technical procedures involved.

Concerns Over Aviation Safety

The Air India crash has raised serious concerns about aviation safety standards in India. Members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have questioned official agencies and private airlines over safety standards. The issue of aviation safety was a key point of discussion during a recent meeting of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. Concerns were also raised about the non-implementation of previous recommendations related to air safety.

The investigation is being conducted under international norms as laid out in ICAO Annex 13 and India's Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017.