The long‑awaited final report into last year’s Air India crash has been delayed after investigators confirmed that critical engine data remains incomplete, frustrating families who have waited months for answers.
India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said the analysis of the Boeing 787’s left‑side engine has not yet been finalised due to missing telemetry and damage to several key components recovered from the wreckage. The bureau stated that without full engine performance data, it cannot determine whether mechanical failure or external factors contributed to the crash.
The aircraft went down shortly after take‑off from Mumbai in December, killing 146 passengers and nine crew members. Preliminary findings released in February suggested a sudden loss of thrust in one engine moments before the aircraft banked sharply and descended. However, investigators have since discovered inconsistencies between flight‑data recordings and physical evidence recovered from the crash site.
Officials close to the inquiry say the delay stems partly from coordination issues between Indian and US technical teams. The engine manufacturer, based in the United States, has been assisting with metallurgical and software analysis but has not yet provided a complete diagnostic report. Sources within the AAIB describe the process as “painstaking,” citing the need to reconstruct damaged components to verify sensor readings.
Families of the victims have expressed growing frustration. Several relatives gathered outside the Civil Aviation Ministry in New Delhi this week, demanding transparency and a timeline for publication of the final report. “We were told the truth would come by summer,” said one family representative. “Now we’re told to wait again. Every delay feels like another wound.”
Aviation safety experts warn that prolonged investigations can erode public confidence. “When inquiries stretch beyond a year, it raises questions about accountability and technical capacity,” said Dr. Meera Patel, a former flight‑safety auditor. “The public deserves clarity on whether this was a preventable tragedy.”
The AAIB insists the delay is procedural, not political. A spokesperson said the bureau is “committed to accuracy over speed” and will release the report once all forensic and engineering analyses are complete. No new publication date has been announced.
The crash remains one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent years and has prompted renewed scrutiny of maintenance oversight and emergency response protocols across the country’s civil aviation sector.
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