The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to include professional pilots in any independent review of the draft final investigation report into the Air India AI171 crash, saying technical issues raised during the investigation should be examined before the report is finalised.The request comes as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) moves towards completing its investigation into the June 12, 2025 crash in Ahmedabad that killed 260 people. The final cause of the accident has not yet been established.Key HighlightsFIP has sought representation in any independent committee reviewing the draft AI171 crash report.The pilots’ body says technical discrepancies raised during the investigation need further examination.FIP has flagged questions surrounding Boeing 787 simulator testing and the timing of the Ram Air Turbine.The pilots have also sought a broader review of electrical, electronic and avionics evidence.The AAIB investigation remains ongoing and no final cause has been officially established.The AI171 Boeing 787-8 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.What Has the Federation of Indian Pilots Asked For?In a September 25 letter to Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, FIP requested formal representation in any independent mechanism created to review the draft final investigation report.The pilots’ body said professional pilots should be included as an independent technical stakeholder because of their operational experience with commercial aircraft.FIP has previously argued that experienced pilots, engineers and aviation medicine specialists should be involved as subject-matter experts during the investigation.The request does not seek to replace the AAIB investigation. Instead, FIP wants technical observations raised by the pilots’ community to be examined before the draft report reaches its final stage.What Technical Concerns Has FIP Raised?One of the key issues concerns the Boeing 787's Ram Air Turbine (RAT), an emergency system designed to provide power following a major loss of aircraft power.FIP has pointed to what it describes as a possible difference between simulator-test observations and the sequence described in the preliminary investigation report.The pilots’ body has also asked investigators to examine electrical, electronic and avionics-related evidence associated with the aircraft.These are concerns raised by FIP and should not be treated as findings of the final investigation.Questions Over Boeing 787 Electrical SystemsThe pilots’ latest intervention follows an earlier September 18 letter in which FIP asked the AAIB to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of electrical and electronically controlled systems on the Boeing 787.According to FIP, the aircraft's highly integrated electrical architecture makes the generation, distribution and monitoring of electrical power an important area for technical examination.The pilots’ body also referred to technical information previously submitted to investigators concerning reported electrical-system issues and asked that relevant evidence be assessed as part of the AI171 investigation.A US-based Foundation for Aviation Safety has separately raised questions about alleged recurring electrical and electronic system anomalies involving the aircraft. Those claims remain part of the wider technical discussion and have not been established as the cause of the crash.What Happened to Air India AI171?Air India Flight AI171 was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. There were 242 people aboard the aircraft, of whom 241 died. Nineteen people on the ground were also killed, taking the total death toll to 260. One passenger survived.The preliminary report released in July 2025 recorded an abrupt interruption of fuel supply to the engines shortly after take-off and included cockpit voice-recorder material relating to the fuel-control switches. However, the AAIB has repeatedly stressed that the investigation must continue before final conclusions are reached.When Will the Final AI171 Crash Report Be Released?The AAIB has not yet published its final report.The government told the Supreme Court earlier this year that the final investigation report was expected around October 2026. The draft report is subject to the procedures required under India's aircraft accident investigation framework and ICAO Annex 13, including circulation to relevant participating states for comments.The AAIB has also previously rejected reports claiming that the investigation had already been finalised, stating that no final conclusions had been reached.Why Is the Pilots’ Role Being Discussed?The FIP says professional aviation expertise is important when examining highly technical issues involving aircraft systems, simulator testing and operational procedures.The request comes after months of debate surrounding the transparency and methodology of the AI171 investigation. Pilot organisations have previously expressed concern that preliminary findings could lead to premature conclusions about the flight crew before the investigation was complete.The final report, however, will be the formal document determining the investigation's conclusions and safety recommendations.What Happens Next?The immediate issue is whether the Civil Aviation Ministry creates or supports an independent review mechanism for the draft report and whether FIP is included in that process.Meanwhile, the AAIB investigation continues. Technical evidence concerning the Boeing 787's electrical systems, avionics, simulator testing and aircraft performance will remain areas of scrutiny as investigators work towards the final report.Until that report is completed, the technical concerns raised by FIP and other aviation groups remain points for examination rather than established findings about what caused AI171 to crash.
