logo
AAIB's preliminary report on Air India plane crash 'very soon': Civil Aviation Minister Naidu

AAIB's preliminary report on Air India plane crash 'very soon': Civil Aviation Minister Naidu

The Hindu11-07-2025
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary investigation report on the fatal Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last month is expected very soon, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu said on Friday and emphasised that the ministry is ensuring transparency and accountability in the probe.
On June 12, Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating flight AI 171 en-route to London Gatwick crashed into a medical hostel complex soon after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 241 who were onboard the plane. One passenger survived the crash.
'Very soon... AAIB is working on it... it is the responsibility of AAIB, let them do their job,' Mr. Naidu said. He was responding to a query on when the preliminary probe report on the Air India aircraft crash is expected to be released. The ministry is ensuring that transparency and accountability are there in the whole investigation process, the minister said on the sidelines of a conference here.
Under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) norms, AAIB can submit a preliminary report within 30 days of the accident to it.
The Ahmedabad crash was also the first time that the best-selling wide-body Dreamliner or Boeing 787 suffered a fatal accident resulting in hull loss.
On June 26, a status report of the crash was released by the ministry.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

DGCA Conducted 146 Audits Of Leading Airlines In 2025 So Far, Says MoS Civil Aviation
DGCA Conducted 146 Audits Of Leading Airlines In 2025 So Far, Says MoS Civil Aviation

News18

time2 hours ago

  • News18

DGCA Conducted 146 Audits Of Leading Airlines In 2025 So Far, Says MoS Civil Aviation

Last Updated: The leading carrier Indigo underwent the most audits with 54 inspections so far in 2025, followed by Air India (33), Akasa Air (18), SpiceJet (26), and Air India Express (11). The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has conducted 146 maintenance audits of major Indian airlines in 2025 (up to July), Civil Aviation MoS Murlidhar Mohol informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Responding to a question raised by Congress MP Murari Lal Meena regarding aircraft maintenance oversight, the minister said the DGCA follows a 'structured surveillance and audit framework," comprising regular and spot audits, night surveillance, and ramp inspections to ensure aircraft safety. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has a structured surveillance and audit framework in place, i.e. planned and unplanned surveillance of organisations/aircraft, which includes regular and periodic audits, spot checks, night Surveillance and ramp inspections across all operators, including continuous oversight of maintenance practices, the minister said in response to the question. The Annual Surveillance Plan (ASP) for the year is prepared in advance, and the audits are conducted in a timely manner as per the Annual Surveillance Plan. The DGCA adheres to an audit calendar to ensure continuous oversight of all scheduled and non-scheduled airline/operators. Any deviation or rescheduling is addressed with urgency and reported accordingly, the minister added. Notably, Tata SIA Airlines Ltd (Vistara) had not undergone any audits in 2025 up to July, though it saw 35 audits in 2024. From 2023 to July 2025, the DGCA conducted a total of 683 maintenance audits of scheduled carriers, reflecting a steady oversight mechanism despite growing concerns over aircraft safety in recent months. The minister also addressed the June 12, 2025, Air India AI-171 accident in Ahmedabad, stating that a formal investigation is underway by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). A preliminary report has been published, but it does not assign blame or confirm causes. Mohol emphasised that the government does not endorse speculative conclusions, especially by foreign media, which may harm the dignity and morale of Indian pilots. 'All investigations under Indian rules are impartial, aiming solely to prevent future accidents," he said. He further noted that operators must follow strict manufacturer-issued guidelines, including Service Bulletins, Airworthiness Directives, and Maintenance Planning Documents, to ensure safe operations. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Air India begins phased resumption of international flights after safety pause
Air India begins phased resumption of international flights after safety pause

India Today

time8 hours ago

  • India Today

Air India begins phased resumption of international flights after safety pause

Air India has commenced a phased restoration of its international operations from August 1, with full resumption targeted for October 1. The move follows a voluntary 'Safety Pause' initiated in June, during which the airline temporarily reduced its schedule to conduct additional pre-flight checks and address operational challenges caused by regional airspace measured approach ensures thorough verification and safe service resumption of Air India, which in a statement, stressed that passenger safety remains its highest India has begun a phased restoration of international operations from August 1, 2025, with full resumption targeted for October 1, 2025. This measured approach ensures thorough verification and safe service resumption," said Air India. "As part of a voluntary 'Safety Pause' initiated in June, Air India temporarily reduced its flight schedule to accommodate additional pre-flight checks and mitigate disruptions due to regional airspace closures. The additional ground time also enabled accelerated upgrades to improve aircraft reliability and enhance delay and disruption management," the statement added. During the pause, detailed inspections of its Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 fleet were carried out under the oversight of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), with no issues found. The fuel control switch mechanism of Boeing 737 and 787-8 aircraft was also inspected, again with no findings.'Following the tragic accident involving AI171 in June, we have undertaken a series of proactive measures and conducted comprehensive checks ensuring that every flight continues to meet the highest global standards of safety and customer service,' the airline India added that its aircraft undergo rigorous checks before every flight by trained engineers and pilots, with maintenance conducted at certified facilities before and between flights. - EndsTune InTrending Reel

Air India kicks off cabin overhaul of legacy Boeing Dreamliners, first revamped aircraft to return by December
Air India kicks off cabin overhaul of legacy Boeing Dreamliners, first revamped aircraft to return by December

Mint

time12 hours ago

  • Mint

Air India kicks off cabin overhaul of legacy Boeing Dreamliners, first revamped aircraft to return by December

Air India has finally kicked off the retrofit of its legacy fleet, with the first Boeing 787-8 widebody aircraft already being sent to the United States for a full upgrade of its cabin. According to a report by ANI, the Boeing 787-8 widebody aircraft sent for retrofit by Air India will return by December this year, after which more aircraft of the fleet will be sent for upgrades. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson told the company's staff on Friday in a town hall meeting that two legacy Boeing aircraft will be sent for retrofit every month after this, with all 25 remaining 787-8s upgraded by June 2027. As for the narrowbody segment, Wilson gave an update saying that retrofitting of all such aircraft will be done by September this year. As many as 14 out of the 27 A320neo aircraft have already been retrofitted and returned to service, the Air India CEO said, as per ANI sources. According to the report, Air India is also ramping up its efforts to improve the reliability of its legacy fleet, including aircraft from the Airbus A320 , Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 families. The company is targetting recurring issues like supply chain delays and spare parts shortages as part of its wider programme of undertaking operational upgrade. The company is working directly with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to fast-track solutions. The strategy involves close collaboration with shareholder partner Singapore Airlines, exchanging best practices on engineering, maintenance planning and operational efficiency. 'Air India is collaborating with our shareholder partner, Singapore Airlines, to exchange notes on industry best practices," CEO Campbell Wilson said, according to ANI. The multi-year retrofit programme is also part of its operational efficiency plan. Despite recent operational challenges - including the Iran airspace closure and engineering safety pauses - Air India's performance metrics remain strong. In the last two months alone, the carrier has flown approximately 4.4 million passengers across 33,000 flights, averaging 108,000 passengers daily with a year-to-date load factor of 84 per cent, the CEO said.

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