Air India Crash That Killed 260: Cockpit Voice Recorder Transcript Completed, Final Report Imminent
The investigation into the Air India plane crash that killed 260 people last year is entering its final stages. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) stated that the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) has been completed.
The agency also revealed it has conducted a psychological autopsy and completed most stages of the investigation. In documents submitted to the court, the AAIB said the inquiry is now in the analysis phase.
“Findings and conclusions are being compiled across various operational, technical, human factors, and organisational areas,” the AAIB wrote, according to Reuters.
The agency also estimates that all remaining investigative activities will be completed within about six weeks, depending on several external factors still pending.
However, the AAIB did not disclose who conducted the psychological autopsy or the results of that analysis. The investigative body is also still awaiting data analysis from an engine monitoring unit received at the end of May, while evaluation of several organisational factors is ongoing.
During the investigation, the AAIB has interviewed Boeing 787 Air India pilots, cabin crew who had previously flown with the ill-fated pilot, technical personnel who prepared the aircraft, air traffic controllers, weather officials, and human factors experts. Family members of the flight crew were also visited at their residences during the early stages of the investigation.
The documents emerged following a lawsuit filed by Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, the father of the captain. He objected to what he claimed were implications made by AAIB officials during a home visit last year that his son had cut off the fuel supply to the engines shortly after take-off.
The AAIB also highlighted the rampant speculation circulating in the media. According to the agency, the narrative blaming the pilot has caused several witnesses to become “withdrawn and unresponsive”, potentially hindering the information-gathering process.
The final investigation report is expected to begin drafting in October. The draft report will then be shared with countries involved in the investigation, including the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), for input before its official publication.
Earlier, Reuters reported that a preliminary assessment by US officials suggested the cockpit voice recorder supported the suspicion that the captain had cut off the fuel supply to the engines. However, the AAIB maintained at the time that it was “too early to reach any definitive conclusions” regarding the cause of the crash.