Ahmedabad crash probe still on: AAIB junks media reports

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Thursday categorically denied Italian media reports suggesting that the investigation into the Air India Flight AI-171 accident had been finalised."The investigation is still in progress. No final conclusions have been reached. The AAIB conducts investigations strictly in accordance with the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025. Aircraft accident investigations are technical, evidence-based processes aimed at determining root causes and enhancing safety," it said, terming the Italian reports incorrect and speculative.

Meanwhile, early eight months after the crash, Air India has moved to formally close the compensation process, making it clear that families accepting the fair and final payout will have to waive any further claims arising out of the accident, sources told The Tribune on Thursday.

An Air India spokesperson said following interim payments made earlier, the airline had now calculated and offered final compensation to each affected family in accordance with the applicable legal framework. The airline said the amounts differed based on individual circumstances and had been determined as per established legal principles.

While the carrier did not disclose figures in specific cases, it reiterated that families of the deceased are being offered compensation of over Rs 1.25 crore. The airline said the process had been carried out in a transparent and compassionate manner, with clear communication about the settlement structure and the choices available to family members.

The spokesperson acknowledged that no monetary compensation could substitute the loss of a loved one, but said clarity on final compensation was a significant step for families seeking closure after the tragedy. The airline said it remained committed to supporting all impacted families as they navigate what it described as an extremely difficult period.

The move comes even as some families have approached legal forums in relation to the crash.

In one of the deadliest aviation disasters in India’s recent history, 260 people, including 241 passengers, lost their lives when Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating flight AI171 to London Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025.