ICAO request to join Air India crash investigation under consideration, probe on as per global standards, say sources
The International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) unusual request of joining the investigation into the June 12 crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft in Ahmedabad is being considered by the government, according to senior government officials. Any decision on the matter will be taken keeping in view the procedures and protocols followed for air accident investigations and the needs of this specific probe, they said.
The United Nations' aviation body has requested the government to give 'observer status' to an ICAO investigator in the probe that is being led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). There has been speculation that the government has rejected ICAO's offer. Sources, however, indicated that the proposal is under consideration. ICAO usually joins aircraft accident investigations in very specific circumstances, mostly when the accident occurs in a conflict zone or the plane is brought down by military action. Officials said that ICAO's request to join the Ahmedabad crash probe is highly unusual.
'The request is under consideration and has not been rejected. All international protocols and processes, as required for such probes, will be assessed before deciding on ICAO's request. The decision will also be based on the needs of the investigation, which is currently going smoothly and in line with the laid-down procedures in India that are in line with ICAO guidelines,' said a senior government official, who did not wish to be identified.
In its request to the government, ICAO is learnt to have suggested that its presence in the probe will help ensure that international standards, procedures, and best practices are followed in the investigation. All but one of the 242 people on board the aircraft perished in the accident, which also led to casualties on the ground. Apart from Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national.
Another government official said that the AAIB-led probe is already being assisted by representatives from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), plane maker Boeing, and engine manufacturer GE, and there was no question of international standards and protocols not being followed. The official added that the government has no problem in onboarding any other overseas organization or expert, but provided that such a need is actually there.
Instances of ICAO joining air crash probes includes the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014 and Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS-572 in 2020, both of which were accidental shoot-downs around conflict zones. Notably, in both these instances, the investigating agencies had sought ICAO's assistance in the probes, and not the other way around.
Extraction and analysis of data from the black boxes of the ill-fated is being done at the AAIB's new state-of-the-art laboratory in Delhi, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). The black boxes are critical in aircraft accident investigations as they provide data on scores on parameters and aircraft systems, helping the investigators identify the most likely causes of an accident.
On Thursday, MoCA said that the AAIB 'promptly initiated' an investigation and constituted a multi-disciplinary team following the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad. This team, constituted as per international protocol, is led by AAIB Director General GVG Yugandhar, and includes an aviation medicine specialist, an air traffic control officer, and representatives from the NTSB. The NTSB is assisting the AAIB in the probe as the aircraft was designed and manufactured in the US by an American company—Boeing.
Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
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