Aviation Herald - News, Incidents and Accidents in Aviation
AAIB Preliminary Report - July, 11th 2025
Crash: AI171 - Air India B788 at Ahmedabad on Jun 12th 2025, lost height shortly after takeoff, no thrust reported
On 12 June 2025 AAIB was notified of an accident involving Air India's B787 aircraft bearing registration VT ANB at Ahmedabad. As per the notification, the aircraft was operating Flight Al171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick and crashed at about 0809 UTC immediately after take-
off. The notification was received from the Airport Authority of India and the Airline Operator. On receipt of the notification, a team of five officers from AAIB including DG, AAIB reached Ahmedabad on the same day. Another three officers from DGCA's Air Safety Directorate arrived from Mumbai to assist in the accident site activities and were put up at disposal of the DG, AAIB. The efforts at the site were led by the DG, AAIB and evidence collection and other site activities were carried out.
The Initial notification of the accident as per ICAO Annex 13 was sent to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), USA which represented the State of Design & Manufacture. As per the information notified to AAIB, the fatalities amongst passengers also included citizens from United Kingdom, Portugal and Canada. The initial notification of the
accident as per ICAO Annex 13 was also sent the AAIB-UK, GPIAAF-Portugal and
Transportation Safety Board (TSB)-Canada which represented the other States whose citizens suffered fatalities in the accident.
NTSB, USA appointed an Accredited Representative and Technical Advisers from Boeing, GE and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to assist in this Investigation. A team led by the NTSB Accredited Representative comprising of representatives from Boeing, GE and FAA arrived at Ahmedabad on 15.06.2025 and participated in the Investigation. A team of officials from AAIB, UK also arrived at Ahmedabad and visited the site with DG, AAIB.
Others: 67 [Note: report shows both minor and serious]
Progress of Investigation
- The wreckage site activities including Drone photography/videography have been completed, and the wreckage has been moved to a secure area near the airport.
- Both Engines were retrieved from the wreckage site and quarantined at a hangar in the airport.
- Components of interest for further examinations have been identified and quarantined.
- Fuel samples taken from the bowsers and tanks used to refuel the aircraft were tested at the DGCA's Lab and found satisfactory.
- Very limited amount of fuel samples could be retrieved from the APU filter and
Refuel/Jettison valve of left wing. The testing of these samples will be done at a suitable facility capable of carrying out the test with the limited available quantity.
- The EAFR data downloaded from forward EAFR is being analyzed in detail.
- The statement of the witnesses and the surviving passenger have been obtained by the Investigators.
- Complete analysis of postmortem reports of the crew and the passengers is being undertaken to corroborate aeromedical findings with the engineering appreciation.
- Additional details are being gathered based on the initial leads.
- At this stage of investigation, there are no recommended actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers.
- Investigation is continuing and the investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from the stakeholders.
My Disclaimer: The above indented text has been shortened for brevity, intended as a preview of the AAIB Preliminary Report. The entire preliminary report can be accessed directly from the AAIB website, AV Hearld, or via the linked text at the top of this post. Preliminary reports are published for 2 purposes: the primary purpose is to update and inform the airlines, airport authorities, manufacturers, government regulators, ICAO, IATA, and the various lawyers involved of the progress of the investigation and any immediate safety recommendations of an urgent nature. The secondary purpose of the preliminary report is to inform the general public on the progress of the investigation and the next steps of the investigative process. Since the report is preliminary, the published facts are numerous, highly technical, and inconclusive. Despite what is being said in the media, there is no conclusive findings at this time to narrow down exactly what caused the aircraft to crash. When the investigation is completed, a final report will be published with the specific details in regards to why it happened and the preventive measures taken/recommended to ensure it doesn't happen again.