The Air India jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, killing 260 people in the world’s deadliest aviation disaster in a decade. The aircraft was powered by engines manufactured by GE Aerospace, which have remained a central focus of the inquiry.

Investigators conducted engine tests in April and traveled to France last month as part of an examination of the aircraft’s engine management unit, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the details have not been made public.
Bloomberg News reported earlier on Thursday that a final report could be released within three months after technical studies involving the engines, which were sent to the United States for examination, are completed.

Under international aviation rules, accident investigators are expected to publish a final report within one year of a crash. When an investigation remains unfinished, authorities typically issue an interim statement outlining progress made in the inquiry.

Reuters reported last month that Indian officials were preparing an interim report rather than a final determination ahead of the anniversary because of the complexity of the investigation.

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the civil aviation ministry, Air India, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, Boeing and GE Aerospace did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A preliminary report released last year found that the aircraft’s engine fuel control switches moved almost simultaneously from the “RUN” position to “CUTOFF” shortly after takeoff, cutting fuel supply to both engines and leading to a loss of thrust.

The findings intensified scrutiny of cockpit actions in the moments before the crash. Reuters reported last year that an early assessment by U.S. officials, based in part on cockpit voice recorder dialogue, supported the possibility that the captain had cut fuel flow to the engines. The AAIB subsequently said it was too early to reach definitive conclusions.

The captain’s father later petitioned India’s Supreme Court for an independent investigation, arguing that potential causes beyond deliberate pilot action should be fully examined.

The Federation of Indian Pilots wrote on June 5 to the civil aviation minister, aviation regulator and the prime minister’s office urging investigators not to release an interim report without obtaining additional technical information from Boeing and Air India.

According to a letter reviewed by Reuters, the pilots’ body argued that further data were necessary to evaluate and challenge what it described as a pilot-suicide theory being explored during the investigation.
The preliminary report did not issue any safety recommendations to Boeing or GE Aerospace, indicating investigators had not identified technical deficiencies requiring immediate corrective action at that stage.

The accident marked the first fatal crash involving Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered commercial service in 2011.

The crash occurred during Air India’s ongoing restructuring following its privatization, a transformation that has faced challenges from supply-chain disruptions, the conflict involving Iran and airspace restrictions imposed by Pakistan on Indian carriers.

The review places new scrutiny on the Beirut-based airline, which has continued operating throughout Lebanon’s economic crisis and ongoing regional conflict while many foreign carriers reduced or suspended flights across parts of the Middle East.

The audit follows complaints from the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA), which warned that civilian aircraft were being flown in proximity to military activity, including Israeli airstrikes near Beirut’s airport. IFALPA President Ron Hay described such operations as posing unacceptable risks to passengers and crews.

Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority said it initiated a safety review and entered discussions with MEA regarding the concerns. The regulator said the audit process remains ongoing, although preliminary oversight inspections conducted between May 18 and June 1 found the airline compliant with regulatory and operational safety requirements.

MEA rejected the allegations, citing its strong safety record and stating that all flights during hostilities were conducted under risk assessments developed with Lebanese authorities and aviation regulators. The airline also denied claims that pilot training assignments were used as disciplinary measures against those reporting safety issues.

The dispute has drawn attention from international aviation groups and airline partners. Pilot associations informed members of the SkyTeam alliance, which includes carriers such as Air France and Delta Air Lines, about the concerns. Both airlines said safety oversight of partner carriers remains a priority.

Additional questions were raised over financial support provided by MEA to aviation sector employees during Lebanon’s financial collapse.

Pilot groups argued the payments could create perceptions of conflicts of interest in regulatory oversight, while the airline said the support was coordinated with government authorities to maintain critical aviation infrastructure and did not affect the regulator’s independence.

The airline’s notice did not specify the duration of the restriction or provide detailed justification, but the move comes against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical frictions in the region.

Separately, the website of budget carrier Flydubai indicated that Iranian nationals holding a valid UAE “Golden Visa” are exempt from the restriction and remain eligible to enter and transit the country.

The exemption suggests that long-term residency status continues to be recognized despite broader entry limitations.Neither Emirates nor Flydubai immediately issued additional statements clarifying operational details, including whether the restrictions apply uniformly across all routes or are subject to further regulatory guidance.

The UAE authorities have not publicly outlined a comprehensive policy announcement accompanying the airline updates. However, aviation advisories and carrier-level restrictions are often aligned with government directives during periods of regional instability.

The measures coincide with rising tensions involving Iran and neighboring states, which have increasingly affected aviation routes, airspace usage, and cross-border mobility. Airlines operating in the Gulf have in recent years adjusted policies in response to security concerns, diplomatic developments, and regulatory changes.

It remains unclear how many passengers may be affected by the restriction or whether additional carriers operating to the UAE will adopt similar measures.

The price controls, introduced in December after widespread flight cancellations by market leader IndiGo drove up ticket prices across the sector, will be withdrawn as conditions stabilise, the civil aviation ministry said in the order dated Friday.

“The prevailing situation has since stabilised, with restoration of capacity and normalisation of operations across the sector,” the ministry said. The order has not been made public, and a ministry spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

The caps had been imposed following disruptions that tightened seat availability and triggered fare spikes at rival carriers. Authorities intervened to limit price volatility and protect passengers.

Indian carriers had urged the government to remove the caps, arguing they were incurring significant revenue losses amid rising expenses, particularly from higher jet fuel prices.

Analysts at HSBC have estimated that a $1 per barrel change in fuel prices can alter IndiGo’s annual fuel bill by roughly 3 billion rupees.Under the restrictions, one-way fares for routes up to 500 km were capped at 7,500 rupees, while tickets for journeys between 1,000 and 1,500 km, including the busy New Delhi–Mumbai sector, were limited to 15,000 rupees.

The government directed airlines to ensure pricing remains “reasonable, transparent and commensurate with market conditions,” adding that passenger interests should not be adversely affected as the controls are lifted.

The move signals a shift back toward market-driven pricing in India’s aviation sector as operational stability returns, even as cost pressures persist.