Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 14: In the aftermath of the catastrophic crash of Air India Flight AI-171, the Indian government has constituted a high-powered committee to investigate the disaster and enhance aviation safety protocols.
The ill-fated flight, which departed from Ahmedabad en route to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after take-off on June 12. Of the 242 passengers and crew on board, only one survived, making it one of the most tragic aviation accidents in India’s history.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced the formation of the committee, which is tasked with identifying the root cause of the crash and recommending systemic improvements to prevent future incidents. While separate investigations by aviation authorities will continue, this panel will focus on broader policy and safety reforms.
The committee will be led by the Union Home Secretary and will include top officials from various departments: the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Indian Air Force, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Intelligence Bureau, and other relevant agencies.
Representatives from the Gujarat government, Ahmedabad police, disaster response teams, and forensic science experts will also assist. The panel will have the flexibility to bring in additional aviation specialists, legal experts, and investigators as needed.
The committee will have unrestricted access to all critical materials, including black box data, cockpit voice recordings, air traffic control (ATC) communications, aircraft maintenance records, and eyewitness testimonies. Site visits to the crash location and interviews with relevant personnel, including ATC staff, ground crew, and first responders, are also part of the agenda.
In case international collaboration is required, the panel will coordinate with foreign aviation authorities and the aircraft’s manufacturers to ensure a comprehensive investigation.
The panel has been directed to submit its report within three months. Besides identifying the cause of the crash, it will evaluate the efficiency of rescue operations, inter-agency coordination, and emergency response mechanisms.
It will also suggest improvements in training, communication protocols, and clarify the roles of central and state agencies during aviation disasters. Furthermore, the committee will review India’s current emergency response standards against global best practices and examine past air accidents to identify patterns and necessary updates to existing regulations.
The government’s objective is clear: to ensure that India’s aviation safety and emergency preparedness are on par with international benchmarks.