Air India crash aftermath: Aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu holds meeting with airlines, airport officials
The ministry of civil aviation launched a comprehensive review of aviation safety, airline performance, and passenger support systems across the country on Thursday, in the wake of the recent Air India incident near Ahmedabad.
Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu chaired a detailed video conference with airport directors nationwide to assess how airports are handling disruptions caused by weather changes, post-accident inspections, and airspace closures linked to geopolitical tensions.
Here are the key directives issued to improve ground operations:
Airports have been told to work closely with airlines to ensure that passenger's issues are resolved promptly and at the ground level.
Availability of food, water, and seating facilities at terminals must be ensured, specifically during delays or congestions.
Adequate staff should be stationed at key touchpoints to proactively handle passenger grievances.
Airport directors were asked to provide full support to airlines experiencing operational disruptions, including help with gate changes and other logistical arrangements.
To ensure a safe and secure airport environment, Airport Directors were instructed to strengthen wildlife hazard management, including measures to deter birds and stray animals.
The minister also held a high-level meeting with Air India's chairman and managing director to address three major concerns: maintaining operational continuity, improving transparency in public communication, and prioritising passenger safety.
Due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and night flying restrictions in Europe, Air India is experiencing reduced aircraft availability. The airline has decided to scale down some operations temporarily and restructure flight schedules. Passengers affected by cancellations or changes will be rebooked or offered full refunds.
Air India has been urged to strengthen its ground coordination and improve the clarity and empathy of its communication with passengers.
Similar meetings were held with senior management from SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Akasa on June 18 and 19, where the minister reviewed fleet readiness, safety protocols, passenger experience, and communication strategies with all carriers. He further announced that such operational reviews would now become a regular practice.
Meanwhile, the aircraft accident investigation bureau (AAIB) began a formal probe into the Air India flight crash near Ahmedabad.
A multi-disciplinary team began investigations on June 12, and recovered both black box sets, the Digital Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder, from the site. International teams from the NTSB and aircraft manufacturers have also joined the probe as per ICAO guidelines.
The ministry confirmed that recovery work and evidence collection have been completed, and further analysis is underway. It reiterated its commitment to transparency, saying that the AAIB will follow all safety and investigative protocols.
Addressing speculation around the black box being sent abroad for decoding, the ministry clarified that any decision on the location for analysis would be taken only after evaluating technical and security concerns.
The ministry also urged all stakeholders to avoid speculation on such sensitive issues and to allow the investigation to continue with the seriousness and professionalism it deserves.
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