U.S., India Officials Spar Over 787 Crash Investigation

NTSB reportedly threatened to withdraw from the probe.

Zach Vasile

Monday, December 01, 2025 at 04:05 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Air India Boeing 787-8 [Credit: Shutterstock/Soos Jozsef]

Key Takeaways:

The investigation into an Air India 787 crash is marked by tense relations and significant disagreements between U.S. (NTSB) and Indian (AAIB) officials.
Key disputes include the location for examining flight recorders, the process for evidence analysis, and the slow pace of data recovery efforts, leading the NTSB to threaten to withdraw support.
Cultural differences and national pride contributed to the friction, with Indian officials asserting their capabilities in the face of U.S. demands.
There's a fundamental disagreement on the crash's cause, with U.S. officials privately suspecting pilot suicide, while Indian authorities avoid discussing pilot culpability.

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Relations between American and Indian officials investigating the crash of an Air India 787 earlier this year have been tense, according to a new report, and there may be considerable daylight between the two sides over the cause of the disaster.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Indian authorities disagreed on where to examine the aircraft’s flight recorders and the process for examining evidence. The Americans were also frustrated by the alleged slow pace of data recovery efforts.