IATA: Nearly 50% Of Air Accident Investigations Lack Final Reports, Hindering Safety Progress

Published Nov 14, 2026, 5:23 PM EST Jack comes to Simple Flying with a lifelong interest in all things aviation. He holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech, and is a certified private and remote pilot. Beyond these experiences, Jack previously worked for a corporate flight department where he gained first-hand experience in the world of business aviation. Currently, Jack works in the professional services industry and continues to build his flight hours outside of work. Nearly half of aviation accidents investigated under international rules still lack published final reports, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The organization warns that the shortfall limits opportunities to identify hazards and prevent similar events. IATA safety director Mark Searle said the publication rate has remained close to 50%, calling the lack of progress unacceptable at the International Aviation Safety Summit in Montreal on November 12, according to Reuters. Several high-profile cases illustrate the consequences. The June 2025 Air India Boeing 787 crash shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad killed 260 people, while China Eastern Airlines Flight MU5735 crashed in March 2022, killing all 132 people aboard. Neither investigation has produced a publicly available final report. Preliminary findings and interim updates can provide information, but they do not replace a completed account of an accident’s causes and safety recommendations. International Rules Set A One-Year Target The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) establishes the reporting framework through Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. It calls for a preliminary report within 30 days and publication of a final report as soon as possible, ideally within 12 months. If an investigation remains open beyond a year, the state should publish an interim statement on each anniversary, describing progress and any safety issues identified. The requirements are outlined in a joint position paper published by IATA and six other aviation organizations. The purpose is prevention, not assigning blame or determining legal liability. Investigators will analyze evidence including flight data and cockpit voice recordings, wreckage, maintenance records, weather, and air traffic control communications. Their findings can produce recommendations for airlines, manufacturers, regulators, and other authorities. A joint position paper published in February 2025 found that only 140 of 268 accidents recorded by IATA between 2018 and 2023 had completed investigations as of June 30, 2024. The remaining 128 cases, or 48%, lacked final reports. IATA’s March 2026 safety report later cited a 63% completion rate for accidents from 2019 through 2023. The figures cover different periods and reporting snapshots, so they are not directly comparable. Investigative Delays Have Several Causes Credit: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock The reasons for missing reports vary. Flight Safety Foundation President and Chief Executive Hassan Shahidi told Reuters that investigating agencies commonly cite shortages of personnel with the technical expertise required to complete complex inquiries. Investigations can involve extensive laboratory analysis, specialist engineering work, access to aircraft and operator records, and coordination between countries. Political sensitivity and judicial proceedings can also complicate publication. Cases involving suspected deliberate acts may be especially difficult when criminal inquiries run alongside independent safety investigations. The China Eastern crash has attracted speculation about whether the aircraft was deliberately brought down, but without a final report, proposed explanations cannot be treated as established findings. A criminal inquiry seeks to establish whether an offense occurred and who may be responsible. An Annex 13 investigation instead examines how an accident happened and what changes could reduce the risk of recurrence. The processes can overlap, but criminal proceedings should not displace independent safety work. Missing Findings Limit Lessons For The Wider Industry Credit: Media_works | Shutterstock A final report can influence safety well beyond the airline or country involved. Recommendations may lead to changes in maintenance procedures, pilot training, aircraft design, operating rules, or regulatory oversight. Without published findings, other operators may struggle to determine whether the same hazard exists in their own fleets. Families and the public may also be left without a clear, evidence-based explanation. The Air India investigation demonstrates the complexity of major cases. The 787 crashed on June 12, 2025, killing 241 people aboard and 19 on the ground. Investigators issued an interim update on the first anniversary, but have not confirmed when a final report will appear. The China Eastern investigation also remains without public final findings more than four years after the crash. These gaps exist alongside a strong overall safety record. IATA’s 2025 Annual Safety Report recorded 51 accidents across 38.7 million commercial flights, equal to 1.32 accidents per million sectors, down from 1.42 in 2024. The figures reinforce that commercial aviation remains statistically safe, but they do not diminish the value of learning from individual accidents. Improving publication rates will require adequately funded investigative agencies, specialist expertise, and safeguards for independent inquiries. IATA has called for coordinated international support where national investigative capacity is limited. Until reports become more timely and accessible, the industry will continue to lose opportunities to turn accident evidence into practical safety improvements.