India, June 12 -- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau on Friday released an interim statement on its investigation into last year's crash of Air India flight 171, saying the evidence gathered was being analysed in a comprehensive and integrated manner.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UN's aviation agency, requires states to release a final accident investigation report within a year of an accident. If this is not possible, it says, the authorities must publish annual status updates outlining progress.

Friday's statement did not provide any additional information about the disaster but underlined that investigators had made significant progress.

"Over the past year, the investigation team has undertaken ...