Air India Crash Probe: AAIB Tells Supreme Court Cockpit Voice Recordings Cannot Be Shared Due to Legal Bar
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has informed the Supreme Court that cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recordings and their transcripts from the Air India Flight AI-171 crash cannot be disclosed to any external committee or the public, citing an “absolute statutory prohibition” under India’s aircraft accident investigation framework. The submission came in response to petitions seeking greater transparency and an independent probe into the June 2025 Ahmedabad crash that claimed 260 lives.
In a detailed affidavit, the AAIB stated that Rule 17(1) and Rule 17(5), read with Schedule C of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2025, expressly prohibit the disclosure of sensitive investigation material. This includes cockpit voice recordings and transcripts, airborne image recordings, witness statements, air traffic control communications and medical records, except in narrowly defined circumstances permitted by law.
The bureau argued that confidentiality is fundamental to aviation accident investigations conducted under international standards prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). According to the AAIB, releasing protected evidence during an ongoing inquiry could compromise the integrity of the investigation, discourage candid cooperation from witnesses in future cases and undermine aviation safety objectives.
The affidavit also informed the apex court that the investigation is in its final analytical phase but remains technically complex because of the involvement of multiple international agencies and pending technical assessments. The AAIB expects the remaining investigative activities to conclude within approximately six weeks, after which a draft final report is likely to be prepared by October 2026 before being circulated to participating states for comments in accordance with international practice.
The submissions come amid heightened public debate following media reports that speculated about the role of the pilots based on selective references to cockpit conversations. The AAIB has consistently maintained that its inquiry is intended solely to identify the causes of the accident and improve aviation safety, not to assign civil or criminal liability. It has repeatedly urged the public and media to avoid drawing conclusions until the final investigation report is released.
The Supreme Court is hearing petitions seeking an independent and transparent investigation into the crash. While petitioners have argued that greater disclosure is necessary to maintain public confidence, the Centre and the AAIB have defended the confidentiality provisions as essential to preserving the fairness and credibility of accident investigations. The Court is expected to consider these competing concerns as the matter proceeds.
