logo
Air accident probe teams begin dissecting AI 171 wreckage

Air accident probe teams begin dissecting AI 171 wreckage

Time of India4 hours ago

Ahmedabad: The investigation team comprising four agencies, including three international bodies, has cordoned off the AI 171 crash site at Atulyam Complex in Meghaninagar.
They are racing against time as monsoon showers pose a challenge for critical evidence collection since morning.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The investigators deployed advanced documentation techniques to preserve every fragment of the plane wreckage.
"Each significant piece will be photographed and videographed before removal or being shifted, following international aviation accident protocols," said a senior official at the crash site. "Investigators implement grid systems to accurately map the wreckage distribution and debris field. The pattern of debris is crucial for indicating the angle of impact and reconstructing the aircraft's flight path," explained a senior official at the crash site.
The painstaking evidence collection process usually involves cataloguing electronic equipment, mechanical components, hydraulic systems, engine fragments, and flight control avionics—all of which need to be sealed in moisture-proof containers to prevent contamination.
"The purpose is to examine fractures and stresses or material failure," the official added. Security remains tight at the site.
"Fire services, police, and municipal officials and personnel are at a distance, while the air accident experts are at work.
The wreckage has been covered, and a few labourers are assisting them. Even officers are not allowed to take their mobiles or any recording devices," the site official revealed.
The investigation is spearheaded by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), working alongside the United States' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), underscoring the international significance of the probe.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Beyond physical evidence, investigators are compiling extensive data sets, including eyewitness testimonies, aircraft maintenance records, crew training logs, and operational history, to identify potential technical issues or procedural deviations that may have contributed to the accident, explained a senior police official.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Officials say Boeing debris likely to be moved to secure space for ‘reconstruction'; probe not hit by rain
Officials say Boeing debris likely to be moved to secure space for ‘reconstruction'; probe not hit by rain

Indian Express

time17 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Officials say Boeing debris likely to be moved to secure space for ‘reconstruction'; probe not hit by rain

As monsoon hit Gujarat, the wreckage at the site where the London Gatwick-bound AI 171 crashed on June 12 killing 241 of 242 onboard among several others in buildings and on the road, is likely to be placed in a 'secure space' either in the airport, or elsewhere, that will be allotted by the Gujarat government for 'reconstruction'. Sources familiar with the developments said that the air crash investigators will be seeking to requisition a hangar or other large space, where the debris will be transported and reconstruction will take place. Discussions for the same are currently underway. A senior official, who did not wish to be named, said, 'A secure hangar at the airport or another secure site in another location, will be given to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) for the aircraft debris.' Parts of the plane, specifically the tail section, which had become embedded in the buildings of the Attulyam hostels of the B J Medical College, were removed, and on Tuesday, teams from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation broke down sections of the compound wall of the Atulyam hostels to enable easy access to the road. Further, the Cattle Nuisance Control Department (CNCD) of the AMC were directed to scour the entire area for stray animals who may try to pick at human remains if they were still undiscovered at the site. Naresh Rajput, the Head of CNCD at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation told the Indian Express, 'The CNCD teams have been deployed at the crash site and they have picked up 6 stray dogs from the vicinity of the crash site. They have been placed in the kennel.' Top sources in the state government told The Indian Express that despite the battering rain since June 16, the crash investigation remains unimpeded. Senior police officials Tuesday said evidence collection and other investigations continued through the day with the support of local agencies. Senior city police officials, who were earlier deployed at the crash site, have now been returned to carry out the preparations for the Jagannath Rath Yatra scheduled from June 27. The yatra will be held about 11 km from the crash site. However, Traffic police personnel have been deployed to secure the zone, where the Indian AAIB – the lead agency, along with the National Transport Safety Bureau (NTSB) of the US, and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) of the British Department of Transport, are working. Boeing officials have also visited the site. Regarding fear that evidence might be damaged in the rain, a senior police officer said, 'All the important parts of the crash site and parts of the crashed plane have been covered to protect it from the rain.' The officer added: 'There is no waterlogging on the site and proper care has been taken to ensure the site is unaffected by such natural factors.' Gujarat government's Civil Aviation department is the nodal office liaising with investigators from the AAIB and has already provided an office space to the AAIB in the Gujarat State Aviation Infrastructure Ltd (GujSAIL) building, located on the airport premises. Dr Rajendra Kumar, Secretary, Civil Aviation, Gujarat, told The Indian Express, 'We are the nodal department to provide all logistical support to the AAIB, and the GujSAIL building is their camp office now. They are using our meeting room and we are providing all facilities and storage space.' Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation officials also told The Indian Express that 40 workers and 10 engineers have been deployed to the crash site on shifts, along with bulldozers and cranes, to assist the AAIB investigators. Two teams of the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) continue to be deployed at the site with power tools to cut and move larger pieces of debris for the investigators. With bodies of some of the crash victims still being recovered more than three days after the crash, especially from the plane's tail section and from the debris of the hostel building, paramedics and doctors continue to be deployed for identification and transport of remains, if any, from the site.

Air accident probe teams begin dissecting AI 171 wreckage
Air accident probe teams begin dissecting AI 171 wreckage

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

Air accident probe teams begin dissecting AI 171 wreckage

Ahmedabad: The investigation team comprising four agencies, including three international bodies, has cordoned off the AI 171 crash site at Atulyam Complex in Meghaninagar. They are racing against time as monsoon showers pose a challenge for critical evidence collection since morning. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The investigators deployed advanced documentation techniques to preserve every fragment of the plane wreckage. "Each significant piece will be photographed and videographed before removal or being shifted, following international aviation accident protocols," said a senior official at the crash site. "Investigators implement grid systems to accurately map the wreckage distribution and debris field. The pattern of debris is crucial for indicating the angle of impact and reconstructing the aircraft's flight path," explained a senior official at the crash site. The painstaking evidence collection process usually involves cataloguing electronic equipment, mechanical components, hydraulic systems, engine fragments, and flight control avionics—all of which need to be sealed in moisture-proof containers to prevent contamination. "The purpose is to examine fractures and stresses or material failure," the official added. Security remains tight at the site. "Fire services, police, and municipal officials and personnel are at a distance, while the air accident experts are at work. The wreckage has been covered, and a few labourers are assisting them. Even officers are not allowed to take their mobiles or any recording devices," the site official revealed. The investigation is spearheaded by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), working alongside the United States' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), underscoring the international significance of the probe. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Beyond physical evidence, investigators are compiling extensive data sets, including eyewitness testimonies, aircraft maintenance records, crew training logs, and operational history, to identify potential technical issues or procedural deviations that may have contributed to the accident, explained a senior police official.

'You will be missed': Air India gives ‘final salute' to Captain Sabharwal who died in Ahmedabad plane crash
'You will be missed': Air India gives ‘final salute' to Captain Sabharwal who died in Ahmedabad plane crash

Mint

time6 hours ago

  • Mint

'You will be missed': Air India gives ‘final salute' to Captain Sabharwal who died in Ahmedabad plane crash

Air India Plane Crash: Air India, on Tuesday bid an emotional farewell to Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who lost his life in the deadly plane crash in Ahmedabad, along with 240 others on Thursday, June 12. Giving a 'final salute' to Captain Sabharwal, and honouring him as an 'exceptional aviator", Air India posted on X: 'RIP Captain. You will be missed.' The 'exceptional aviator's was laid to rest today, June 17. His funeral was attended by Air India COO, Tata Group's HR Head and Communications Head, Air India shared on X. Hailed as a 'hero' by locals – Captain Sabharwal — who was in the cockpit of the ill-fated AI-I71 flight, reportedly managed to divert the aircraft at the last second to prevent crashing into any apartment block, saving many lives. On June 12 – the 'darkest day in Tata Group's history,' plumes of black smoke filled the skies in Ahmedabad's Mehnaninagar after flight AI171 smashed into BJ Medical College Hostel's Mess, killing 241 people on board, and others on ground. The death toll climbed to 270, including MBBS students, a PG resident doctor, who were having lunch in the mess when the London Gatwick bound plane lost height and turned into a 'fire-ball' – crashing into the hostel. Mumbai, Jun 17 (ANI): Father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, Pushkaraj, pays last respect with teary eyes to his son who piloted the ill-fated Air India plane in Ahmedabad that crashed soon after takeoff, outside their residence at Powai in Mumbai on Tuesday. (ANI Video Grab) Bodies were charred, requiring forensic teams to carry out DNA tests to identify them and hand over to the kin. Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Rakesh Joshi said that as of today evening, a total of 163 DNA samples have been matched Only one person – seated at 11A during the time of the crash — Ramesh Vishwas Kumar, miraculously survived. Even in the face of the deadly crash, the late captain of the Boeing Dreamliner is remembered by locals as a 'hero.' Mumbai, India - June 17, 2025: Relatives and neighbors gather outside the Powai residence as the body of captain Sumeet Sabharwal, who died in the ill-fated Air India flight, arrives home on Tuesday morning in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Photo by Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) All 18 families residing in the three-story building beneath the flight path are certain that Captain Sumeet Sabharwal saved their lives. His Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which was heading straight toward their homes, got diverted as skillful handling of the emergency averted the disaster at that place, reported The Sun. Aged 54-years-old, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal was the son of an officer from India's civil aviation authority. The deceased captain was a seasoned pilot with 8,200 hours of flight experience and also the primary caregiver for his father — currently in his 80s — whom he called just prior to the takeoff.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store