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Ahmedabad Air India cockpit audio legally barred from release
In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the AAIB said several critical pieces of evidence gathered during the investigation cannot legally be disclosed to the public or shared with outside committees.
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Richa Singh - Wed, 15, Jul 2026
- 04:22 EDT
- 14
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File Photo / Reuters/Adnan Abidi
The cockpit conversations from the deadly Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad will not be made public, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has told the Supreme Court, citing strict legal protections designed to preserve the integrity of aviation accident investigations.
The agency also revealed that a draft final investigation report is expected by October 2026, offering the clearest timeline yet for one of India's worst aviation disasters.
AAIB says the law bars public release of cockpit recordings
In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the AAIB said several critical pieces of evidence gathered during the investigation cannot legally be disclosed to the public or shared with outside committees.
Those protected records include:
- Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) audio and transcripts
- Audio and video recorded inside the aircraft
- Witness statements collected during the investigation
- Communications involving pilots, airline personnel and other staff
- Air Traffic Control (ATC) recordings
- Personal and medical information of those killed or injured
According to the bureau, Rule 17(5) of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Rules, 2025, specifically prohibits the public release of cockpit voice recordings and onboard recordings.
Why investigators refuse to release the recordings
The AAIB argued that making such evidence public could seriously undermine future accident investigations. The bureau told the court that if pilots, crew members, witnesses or aviation personnel fear their statements may later become public, they may hesitate to speak openly during investigations. That would weaken efforts to identify the real causes of crashes and ultimately make it harder to improve aviation safety.
The agency stressed that the investigation is not intended to assign blame to any pilot, crew member or individual. Instead, its purpose is to determine why the crash occurred and recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Investigation follows international aviation standards
The AAIB also informed the Supreme Court that the probe is being conducted not only under Indian law but also in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 and the Chicago Convention, which govern aircraft accident investigations worldwide.
Under these international rules, authorities from the aircraft manufacturer's country, the airline and other relevant agencies may also participate in the investigation process.
The bureau said the remaining investigative work is expected to be completed within approximately six weeks, provided all required information is received on time. After analyzing the evidence, investigators expect to prepare a draft final report by October 2026.
Why the case reached the Supreme Court
The affidavit was submitted in response to petitions filed by Pushkaraj Sabharwal, father of the late Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal, along with the Federation of Indian Pilots and the Safety Matters Foundation.
The petitioners sought an independent and transparent investigation under the supervision of a retired judge. The Supreme Court has previously observed that the investigation has not held Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal responsible for the crash.
What happened in the Ahmedabad Air India crash?
On June 12, 2025, Air India Flight AI171 departed Ahmedabad for London's Gatwick Airport but crashed into a medical college hostel complex just minutes after takeoff.
Of the 242 people on board, 241 lost their lives. Another 19 people on the ground were also killed, taking the total death toll to 260. The disaster remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in India's history and continues to shape debates over aviation safety, transparency and the balance between public accountability and legally protected crash investigations.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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