Air India Crash Timeline Stretches: Investigators Need More Time, Offer Interim Snapshot Before Full Report

Indian authorities have stated the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) requires additional time to undertake the intricate technical and human factors investigation related to the Air India crash near Ahmedabad. The interim statement will give a more up-to-date factual picture, but not final causality or blame, and the full safety investigation is continuing.

The status of the Air India investigation.

Flight data and cockpit voice recorders have already been recovered and decoded and investigators are now correlating the information with radar tracks, maintenance records and crew information. The analysis is being supported by international partners, such as technical agencies in the United Kingdom (AAIB) and the United States.

The NTSB's role and reporting procedures.

The draft final report is to be made available to accredited foreign investigators, such as the NTSB in the USA, for comment prior to publication, but interim reports are at India's discretion, according to ICAO rules. This consultation is intended to enhance the technical robustness of the report without affecting India's conclusions and safety recommendations.

Investigation Progress Highlights

• Interim report is being prepared in advance of the June anniversary of the crash, not a final report.
• AAIB is still in the process of final analysis, but says it needs more time and a broad review of the data.
• Draft final report will be sent to US NTSB and other accredited parties for feedback before publication
• The ongoing investigation is based on black box data, maintenance records and inputs from experts around the world.

Sources: NDTV Profit, Times Of India, PIB, Bloomberg, BBC