FIP Serves Notice to AAIB in Ahmedabad Plane Crash Probe

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has served a legal notice to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), raising concerns over the pace and transparency of the probe into the Ahmedabad plane crash that killed both pilots in late 2025.

The notice, issued by FIP’s legal counsel, alleges undue delays in the submission of the AAIB’s final investigation report into the accident, which involved an Air India Express Boeing 737 that crashed during landing at Ahmedabad Airport. The pilots lost their lives in the impact, and the accident triggered scrutiny over crew training, operational protocols and runway safety at smaller Indian aerodromes.

According to FIP, investigators have not met previously agreed timelines for completing and publishing a comprehensive report, prompting the union to seek judicial intervention if necessary. The notice calls on the AAIB to expedite the investigation’s completion and ensure that findings are communicated transparently to the aviation community and the bereaved families.

The AAIB, India’s statutory air accident investigation authority, is mandated under the Aircraft Rules to conduct independent and impartial inquiries into civil aviation accidents. Its reports drive safety recommendations, regulatory changes and industry-wide learning to prevent recurrence. Delays in finalising reports can hamper the implementation of safety enhancements and frustrate stakeholders seeking closure.

The Ahmedabad crash, which occurred on a flight operated by Air India Express, killed the two flight crew and injured several passengers when the aircraft overran the runway during adverse weather conditions. The Bureau released interim findings that highlighted issues with approach stabilisation, crew decision-making and runway condition, but the final report has been pending.

FIP’s move to serve a legal notice reflects broader industry impatience with prolonged investigations, particularly when they involve fatalities and questions of operational risk. Pilot unions argue that timely and detailed investigation outcomes are essential to uphold safety culture and assure confidence among flight crew and passengers.

Investigations into serious aviation accidents follow structured protocols involving evidence collection, flight data analysis, witness interviews and technical evaluation. Independent air accident bodies such as the AAIB must balance thoroughness with timeliness, as regulatory and industry stakeholders await actionable recommendations.

For regulators like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and operators, the outcome of the Ahmedabad probe will inform potential revisions to training curricula, standard operating procedures and runway safety measures at airports across India. The balance between procedural rigour and report delivery speed is a perennial challenge in aviation safety governance.

The federation’s legal action also raises questions about resourcing, procedural bottlenecks and inter-agency coordination in complex accident probes. As India’s aviation sector continues to expand, stakeholders are advocating greater transparency and accountability in investigation timelines to reinforce trust in safety oversight mechanisms.