 "Debris of an Air India plane that crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport. Pic/PTI")
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on Saturday (June 14) that a high-level multi-disciplinary committee will be formed to probe the fatal Air India crash near Ahmedabad airport, which killed 265 people on June 12. The ill-fated flight was en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport as it crashed into a medical college building within seconds after takeoff.
What will the committee do?
The panel’s top priority would be to examine the cause of the crash. A black box of the flight was recovered from the college building’s rooftop on Friday by investigators, which will help establish the important facts.
Secondly, the panel will examine the circumstances that may have caused the tragedy and assess whether the current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) need to be reviewed and whether a new safety guideline is required.
The ministry clarified that this panel will act independently and won’t interfere with parallel investigations by other aviation agencies and experts.
In a post on X, the ministry said that the committee’s primary objective is to recommend a robust framework for preventing and effectively managing similar aviation incidents in the future.
“The Committee will not be a substitute to other enquiries being conducted by relevant organisations but will focus on formulating SOPs for preventing and handling such occurrences in the future," the post reads.
Air India disaster
Air India Flight AI171 crashed just seconds after departing from Ahmedabad airport when the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner slammed into a medical college hostel in a nearby residential neighbourhood.
Videos from witnesses showed the plane struggling to climb before spiralling into a fiery explosion.
The tragic flight had 230 passengers, including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, and 1 Canadian, plus 12 crew members. Only one person survived the disaster.
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and met with injured survivors at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Efforts to identify the deceased continue, with 70-80 doctors performing post-mortem exams. So far, five victims have been identified, and their remains have been given to their families.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA detailed investigation is in progress to find out what caused the crash. Forensic teams are analysing the wreckage, and aviation officials are conducting a thorough probe.