The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is facing a delay in releasing the final report on the Air India AI-171 crash due to an ongoing engine analysis by GE Aerospace. The probe body is expected to release an interim statement on the first anniversary of the disaster, fulfilling its obligation under international aviation conventions.
Three officials familiar with the matter stated that the engines recovered from the crashed Boeing 787 have been sent to GE Aerospace's facilities in Ohio for detailed examination. The final report cannot be released before the analysis is completed.
Investigations are still working to establish why the aircraft went down 32 seconds after take-off, leaving some of the most critical questions surrounding India's deadliest air disaster in nearly three decades unanswered.
The AAIB released its preliminary report on July 12 last year, but the final report is expected to provide more comprehensive details of the investigative work carried out so far and outline the areas that remain under examination.
The crash was the first fatal accident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered commercial service in 2011, and the first hull loss of the model globally.
