While there are no substantiated allegations against the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the government agency responsible for investigating aircraft accidents in India, of deliberately concealing any information, the confidentiality of the investigation and confidentiality rules have certainly raised concerns among the public about their safety during air travel. Following incidents such as the Ahmedabad Air India AI171 plane crash on June 12, 2025, and the recent technical malfunction of the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight in August 2026, some key points have emerged regarding the investigation process:
Not making the cockpit voice recording (CVR) public. Aviation associations and whistleblowers have raised questions about the investigating agencies not making the original audio recording of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) public. Citing the Supreme Court and International Aviation Regulations (ICAO), the AAIB clarified that the original audio cannot be released to the public due to pilot confidentiality and safety protocols, although a full transcript will be included in the final report.
Contradictions regarding the fuel control switches: The initial investigation report stated that the fuel control switches for both engines had cut off shortly after takeoff. Pilot unions (such as ALPA India) alleged that the investigating agencies were trying to protect the aircraft manufacturer (Boeing) and shift the blame onto the deceased pilots. However, in July 2026, the government clarified in Parliament that advanced testing had found no technical fault with the switches and that a thorough investigation into all aspects was ongoing.
Clarification on the delay in the final report: The delay in the final investigation raised questions about transparency. In response, the AAIB informed the Supreme Court that this was not an in-house or domestic investigation. It also includes foreign experts (such as the US NTSB and France’s BEA) and experts from aircraft manufacturers. The investigating agency has assured the court that the final draft report will be ready by October 2026.
Questions about independence: Aviation experts and media reports (such as an opinion piece in The Hindu) have raised the issue that the AAIB technically operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), which itself oversees airlines and the regulator (DGCA). This has led some to question a conflict of interest, but legally, the agency operates as an independent statutory body.