logo
AAIB probe into Air India crash transparent, totally unbiased: Ram Mohan Naidu

AAIB probe into Air India crash transparent, totally unbiased: Ram Mohan Naidu

Hindustan Times7 days ago
NEW DELHI: Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu backed the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) report and probe into the crash of Air India 171, terming the body 'unbiased', even as several lawmakers questioned him on the accident and on air safety. Ahmedabad: Wreckage of Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, which was operating flight AI 171 from Ahmedabad to London, placed under tight security, seen a month after the tragedy, in Ahmedabad. (PTI)
His comments in the Rajya Sabha came in the wake of a raft of reports in western media that have blamed the commander of the aircraft for the crash, claiming that he switched off fuel to the engines. AAIB's preliminary report identifies the fuel switches being in cut-off position as the reason for the engine failure, and paraphrases a conversation between the two pilots, with one asking the other whether he cut the fuel, and receiving a negative response. The report did not say what could have caused this, but said there was nothing wrong with either the engine or the aircraft.
Also Read | 'Speculative': US transport safety body NTSB slams Air India crash media reports blaming pilot
Replying to Rajya Sabha MP Ashokrao Chavan, Naidu said: ' AAIB got into the investigation right after the accident happened… they have started the process according to international standards… they have involved all subject matter experts… necessary people who are supposed to be participating in the investigation. They have gone through the first set of investigation processes and have given us the preliminary report.'
To be sure, AAIB has responded to western media reports by clarifying that its preliminary report was only about the 'what' and not the 'why' or 'how'.
The civil aviation minister said that definitive answers will only be available once the AAIB's final report is ready.
Talking about the preliminary report and decoding of the black box of the B787 that crashed on June 12, Naidu said, ' Whenever these accidents happen and the black box gets damaged. It was always sent to the original equipment manufacturer and for decoding.' This time, he added, that the black box was decoded in the county for the first time and 'we have done it successfully'.
Also Read: Two media houses get pilot bodies' notice for coverage of Air India crash report
Replying to MP Anil Kumar Yadav Mandadi, minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol, in a written reply, said that the data from one of the flight recorders of AI-171 (VT-ANB) has been downloaded in the Flight Recorder Lab of the AAIB at Udaan Bhawan.
Naidu asked people to 'respect the process'.
'We want to stand by the truth. We want to find out what exactly happened and that is only going to be coming out once the final report (of AAIB) is placed. We have to respect the process of investigation and once that process has happened, then we can talk about what happened, how it happened and then corrective measures (can be taken),' the minister said.
'I can say this in the House and to the people of the country that AAIB has a very definitive and thorough rule-based process. They are very transparently looking at the (investigation) process right now and they are totally unbiased,' Naidu added.
Referring to western media reports, he said: 'There have been multiple reports not only in India but also in the Western media, trying to air their own viewpoints and narratives but I want to tell you that the way we are seeing the investigation is through the facts. We want to stand by the truth and not what is happening with the pilots, Boeing, Air India or any other stakeholder'. We want to find out what exactly happened. We have to respect the process of investigation.'
India's civil aviation regulator has always focused on safety, he said, replying to another question from Fauzia Khan: 'In terms of safety, DGCA has inspections which are planned, ramp inspections, spot checks, and night surveillance… they conduct safety audits…they keep monitoring all aircraft and airports…whenever such incidents happen… we ensure that there is no negligence and no incompetence on any of the processes, nd if something takes place because of the negligence then we take a serious actions on the operator and any necessary person and impose penalties..'
Separately, in a written reply to MP John Brittas, Mrulidhar Mohol said, 'During the last six months, a total of nine show cause notices have been issued to Air India in connection with five identified safety violations. Enforcement action has been completed in respect of one violation. '
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Parliament Monsoon Session Day 6 LIVE: Parliament to hold 16-hour debate on Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, PM Modi to speak
Parliament Monsoon Session Day 6 LIVE: Parliament to hold 16-hour debate on Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, PM Modi to speak

Indian Express

time25 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Parliament Monsoon Session Day 6 LIVE: Parliament to hold 16-hour debate on Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, PM Modi to speak

Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE News Updates: After a week of repeated disruptions and adjournments, the Lok Sabha is set to hold a fiery debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor today (July 28). Discussion on US President Donald Trump's claim of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor will also be taken up today. The Rajya Sabha is scheduled to take up the discussion on the matter on Tuesday. 16-hour debate: Both sides have agreed to a marathon 16-hour debate in each House. According to sources, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will speak on the issue, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to intervene. In addition, the ruling NDA is expected to field its members from the seven multi-party delegations that travelled to over 30 world capitals to present India's case following Operation Sindoor. Whether the Congress will allow Shashi Tharoor to speak on the matter remains uncertain, as he has been at odds with his party after praising the Modi government's handling of the situation while leading a delegation to the US and other countries.

Parliament Monsoon Session: Fiery debate on Op Sindoor expected in Lok Sabha today, will Shashi Tharoor speak?
Parliament Monsoon Session: Fiery debate on Op Sindoor expected in Lok Sabha today, will Shashi Tharoor speak?

Mint

timean hour ago

  • Mint

Parliament Monsoon Session: Fiery debate on Op Sindoor expected in Lok Sabha today, will Shashi Tharoor speak?

Parliament Monsoon Session: After disruption throughout the first week of the Monsoon Session, Parliament is set to witness a fiery debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor from today. Members of the ruling alliance and the Opposition are expected to clash over the two issues steeped in national security and foreign policy imperatives. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and opposition parties will field their top leaders during the discussions in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will speak on the issues representing the government side. There are indications that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also intervene to convey his government's "robust" stand against terrorism. There is, however, no official confirmation on this. The leaders of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, may lead the charge against the government along with Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav and a host of other members. The Congress party has issued a whip to its Lok Sabha MPs, mandating their presence in the House for three days. News agency PTI, quoting sources, said the party's Deputy Leader in the House, Gaurav Gogoi, is expected to begin the opposition party's charge on the first day of the debate today. After the first week of session ended up a virtual washout due to opposition protests on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and other issues, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on July 25 that the Opposition has agreed to start a discussion on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha on Monday and in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The two sides have consented to a marathon 16-hour debate in each House, which invariably stretches longer in practice. According to the listed agenda of the Lok Sabha, the House will have a "special discussion on India's strong, succesful and decisive Operation Sindoor in response to terrorist attack in Pahalgam". In addition to its battery of ministers and leaders like Anurag Thakur, Sudhanshu Trivedi, and Nishikant Dubey, the ruling NDA is expected to field members from the seven multi-party delegations that travelled to over 30 world capitals to present India's case after Operation Sindoor. They include Shrikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena, Sanjay Jha of the JD(U), and Harish Balayogi of the TDP. A big question mark is whether Shashi Tharoor, who led the delegation to the US, among other countries, will be picked as a speaker by the Congress. The seasoned Lok Sabha member's enthusiastic endorsement of the government's action following the terror attack has soured his ties with his party. Opposition parties have framed their public criticism of the government around alleged intelligence lapses behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians killed, and US President Donald Trump's claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the four-day military action that ended on May 10. Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly attacked the government's foreign policy, claiming India did not receive international support on Operation Sindoor and has cited Trump's frequent mediation claims to target the ruling alliance. The government has rejected Trump's claims. Modi, on his part, has lauded Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror sites in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, for meeting 100 per cent of its objectives and proving the mettle of India's indigenous defence weapons and platforms. The BJP and its allies have highlighted the "new normal" Modi has drawn in fighting terrorism with his muscular response, including striking at terrorist sanctuaries deep inside Pakistan and putting in abeyance the Indus Waters Agreement. Both countries were engaged in a four-day conflict as Pakistan retaliated after India hit facilities housing terrorists with precise strikes. India has asserted that several air bases of the neighbouring country suffered serious damage, and that the two sides agreed to stop military actions after Pakistan reached out to it. A bone of contention persists between the government and the Opposition: the latter's demand for a discussion in Parliament over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar by the Election Commission. A united opposition stalled Parliament in the first week primarily over this issue, as it has claimed that the exercise is aimed at helping the BJP-led alliance in the poll-bound state, amid the EC's assertion that it is solely focused on ensuring that only eligible people cast their votes. The government has lauded Operation Sindoor for meeting 100 percent of its objectives. Rijiju has said that every issue cannot be taken up for discussion in Parliament at once, and the government will take a call on the demand for debate on the SIR later in line with the rules.

Justice Varma cash recovery row: Supreme Court hearing on Allahabad HC Judge Justice Varma LIVE updates on July 28, 2025
Justice Varma cash recovery row: Supreme Court hearing on Allahabad HC Judge Justice Varma LIVE updates on July 28, 2025

The Hindu

timean hour ago

  • The Hindu

Justice Varma cash recovery row: Supreme Court hearing on Allahabad HC Judge Justice Varma LIVE updates on July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025 09:35 Lok Sabha to take up motion to remove Justice Varma, motion not admitted in Rajya Sabha Lok Sabha will take up a bipartisan motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma, who is embroiled in a suspected corruption case, as the opposition-sponsored notice for a similar motion in Rajya Sabha was not admitted. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday (July 25, 2025) that it was a unanimous decision of all political parties to move unitedly in a case of perceived corruption in judiciary, asserting that Lok Sabha will take up the motion, which was signed by 152 MPs from the ruling alliance and the Opposition. Official sources said the Opposition-sponsored notice for a similar motion in Rajya Sabha, which received it on the same day when the bipartisan notice was submitted to Lok Sabha on July 21, has not been admitted. This ends speculation about the fate of the notice signed by 63 Rajya Sabha members of Opposition parties. Then Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar had mentioned receiving it in the House, alarming the government and triggering a chain of events that led to his abrupt resignation on the same night. Mr. Rijiju said all political parties had agreed that the removal of Varma should be a joint call, adding that the proceedings will be taken up in Lok Sabha and then move to Rajya Sabha in line with the Judges (Enquiry) Act. -- PTI

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store