Veteran pilot RS Sandhu appointed as expert in Ahmedabad crash investigation

19 hours ago

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has roped in veteran pilot and Air India's former director of operations Captain RS Sandhu as a domain expert in the ongoing probe into the Ahmedabad plane crash that killed 260 persons last month, sources said on Sunday.Sandhu, who was also a designated examiner for the Boeing 787-8 fleet at Air India, had taken delivery of the now-crashed 787-8 plane -- VT-ANB -- in 2013.On June 12, Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft en route to London Gatwick from Ahmedabad crashed into a building soon after takeoff, killing 260 people, including 19 people on the ground. Out of the 242 people onboard, one passenger survived.On July 12, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report into the fatal crash."AAIB has onboarded seasoned aviator RS Sandhu in the ongoing investigation of the Air India Boeing 787-8 plane crash in Ahmedabad last month," one of the sources told PTI.AAIB had apparently approached Sandhu to be a domain expert in the ongoing probe, and he agreed to the proposal, the sources said.Sandhu, who was with Air India for close to 39 years in various capacities, is the founder of aviation consultancy firm Aviazione. He had also headed a team that worked on the integration of the Tata Group airlines.Various pilot unions had raised concerns over the absence of subject matter experts in the probe. Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India) has been urging AAIB to include its representatives in the Air India aircraft crash probe.Details about other domain experts, who are part of the AAIB investigation, could not be immediately ascertained.A five-member team, headed by 56-year-old Sanjay Kumar Singh, is probing the fatal crash of the Air India aircraft.Experienced pilots, engineers, aviation medicine specialists, aviation psychologists and flight recorder specialists have been taken on board as subject matter experts to assist in the investigation in the area of their domain expertise, according to AAIB.- EndsTrending Reel
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Air India issued 9 show cause notices in 6 months over safety lapses: Govt

Business Standard

23 minutes ago

Business Standard

Air India issued 9 show cause notices in 6 months over safety lapses: Govt

The government issued nine show-cause notices to Air India for safety violations in the last six months, with enforcement action taken in one case, the civil aviation minister informed Rajya Sabha Deepak Patel New Delhi The central government has issued nine show-cause notices to Air India in the past six months for five safety violations, with enforcement action completed in one case, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Muralidhar Mohol told Rajya Sabha on Monday. In a written reply, Mohol also said that 71 aircraft belonging to various carriers were damaged at Indian airports in the first six months of 2025 due to 511 bird strikes and 16 animal strikes. No injuries or fatalities were reported from such incidents in the past five years. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has conducted three safety audits of Air India— in September 2020, March 2023, and March 2025—and found no major lapses. However, the regulator did follow up with the airline to ensure corrective actions were taken, he added. Between 2020 and 2025, DGCA took enforcement action in three complaints against Air India. These included a ₹30 lakh penalty, suspension of three licences, withdrawal of one post holder's approval, and five warnings. Mohol also said Air India was fully compliant with DGCA regulations at the time of its disinvestment. "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," he stated.

Another Air India flight scare: Delhi-Kolkata flight aborted moments before take-off due to 'technical issue'

Time of India

an hour ago

Time of India

Another Air India flight scare: Delhi-Kolkata flight aborted moments before take-off due to 'technical issue'

NEW DELHI: An Air India flight on Monday was rescheduled to depart as it detected a technical issue during the take-off roll. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off, following Standard Operating Procedures, a spokesperson said. ANI quoted an Air India spokesperson saying, "Flight AI2403 operating from Delhi to Kolkata on 21 July 2025 has been rescheduled to depart later this evening, necessitated by a technical issue detected during the take-off roll. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the take-off, following Standard Operating Procedures. All passengers have disembarked and our ground colleagues in Delhi are extending support to them..."

Should Boeing 787 Dreamliners Be Grounded In India? Here's What Govt Said

News18

3 hours ago

News18

Should Boeing 787 Dreamliners Be Grounded In India? Here's What Govt Said

33 Boeing 787 Dreamliners operate in India, with two under maintenance. Boeing's entire fleet, including the 787 Dreamliner, has come under intense scrutiny after the horrific crash of Air India's Ahmedabad-London flight. India's Aviation watchdog had also ordered an inspection of the fuel control switch systems of Boeing and other aircraft operating in the country. Now, a Rajya MP has asked the government during the ongoing Parliament's monsoon session if it intends to withdraw Boeing 787 Dreamliners from the civil aviation sector in the backdrop of the June 12 crash, in which 260 people were killed, including 241 on board and 19 on the ground. In a written reply to Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jebi Mather's question, Murlidhar Mohol, Minister of State in the Civil Aviation Ministry, said there is no such proposal under consideration. Mohol also informed that there are 33 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, including two under scheduled maintenance, operating in the country. view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 18:30 IST 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.