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FAS Alleges Lack of Transparency in Air India Crash Probe
The Foundation for Aviation Safety is questioning how India is investigating the Air India AI-171 crash.
The crash happened on June 12, 2025, and 260 people died.
The foundation says it gave investigators many documents about the airplane.
It says those documents described possible problems with the airplane’s electrical and computer systems.
It also says important airplane data has not been publicly shared.
The foundation wants the information added to the official investigation record.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau says it received the information in June 2026.
The bureau says its investigators examined the material and are following the required investigation rules.
The two organizations therefore disagree about how transparent the investigation has been.
The Foundation for Aviation Safety accused India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of insufficient transparency in the AI-171 crash investigation.
FAS said it submitted hundreds of non-public documents concerning aircraft VT-ANB through a UK AAIB expert.
The foundation alleged the documents described recurring failures involving the aircraft’s electrical, electronic and flight computer systems.
FAS said ACARS and Aircraft Health Monitoring data indicated failures before the crash and had not been made public.
The AAIB said it received and examined FAS’s technical information and was conducting the investigation under Indian rules and ICAO Annex 13.
- Who
- The Foundation for Aviation Safety and India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are involved; FAS Executive Director Ed Pierson wrote to AAIB Director General G. V. G. Yugandhar.
- What
- FAS alleged that the AAIB had not transparently handled documents and data relevant to the Air India AI-171 crash investigation; the AAIB said the material was received and examined.
- Where
- The investigation is being conducted in India; the letter was addressed to the AAIB in New Delhi.
- When
- The crash occurred on June 12, 2025. FAS’s letters were dated August 21 and August 27, 2026, while the AAIB response was dated August 26, 2026.
- Why
- FAS says the information could help determine the crash’s causal factors and should be included in the public investigation record.
Foundation for Aviation Safety
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau
Transparency of submitted evidence
Foundation for Aviation Safety
FAS alleged that the AAIB failed to acknowledge hundreds of documents concerning VT-ANB in its preliminary or interim reports and called this a breach of international obligations.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau
The AAIB said the technical information and inputs supplied by FAS were received through its UK expert on June 10, 2026, and examined by the investigation team.
Possible aircraft system failures
Foundation for Aviation Safety
FAS said the documents and aircraft data indicated chronic or systemic failures involving electrical, electronic and flight computer systems before the crash.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau
The AAIB said all relevant factual information and evidence were available to investigators and were being duly examined as part of the ongoing probe.
Public safety action and investigative direction
Foundation for Aviation Safety
FAS said the AAIB had not issued interim safety recommendations or warnings despite the alleged evidence, and appeared inclined to blame a pilot.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau
The AAIB said the investigation was being conducted fairly and impartially under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, and applicable ICAO Annex 13 provisions.
Key facts
- Flight
- Air India AI-171
- Aircraft
- VT-ANB
- Crash date
- June 12, 2025
- Fatalities
- 260 people
- FAS letter
- Dated August 27, 2026
- AAIB response
- Dated August 26, 2026
- Data cited
- ACARS and Aircraft Health Monitoring data
Sources
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