Govt Forms Committee to Investigate Air India Crash, Examine Aviation SOPs

Govt Forms High-Level Committee to Probe Air India Crash, Review Aviation SOPs.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday announced the formation of a high-level, multi-disciplinary committee to investigate the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171. The aircraft, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on June 12, went down shortly after takeoff, killing at least 265 people and injuring several others.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the ministry said the committee will not only examine the events leading up to the crash but also review existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and aviation safety guidelines. The objective is to recommend a more robust framework for preventing and managing such aviation disasters in the future.

“The Committee will not be a substitute for other statutory investigations being conducted by relevant agencies,” the ministry clarified. “Its focus will be on strengthening operational protocols and emergency response mechanisms.”

The crash involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which lost altitude minutes after departing Ahmedabad airport and slammed into a medical college hostel in a nearby residential area. Eyewitness footage showed the aircraft struggling to gain height before spiraling down in flames.

Flight AI-171 was carrying 230 passengers, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, and one Canadian, along with 12 crew members. Only one passenger survived the crash.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the site of the crash on Friday and later met with survivors at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. The identification of the deceased is ongoing, with a team of nearly 80 doctors conducting post-mortem examinations. So far, five bodies have been identified and handed over to their families.

Forensic teams are analyzing debris at the crash site, and aviation authorities have launched a parallel technical investigation to determine the precise cause of the accident.