Latest news with #EmergingBusinessConclave
Hans India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
AAIB probing sabotage angle in Air India Crash
New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing from all angles, including sabotage, in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed 274 people on board and on the ground last month, Minister of State (MoS) For Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said. Mohol said the black box of the Air India flight AI 171 that has been recovered is in AAIB's custody and will not be outside the country for a thorough assessment. The MoS was speaking at the Pune chapter of the Emerging Business Conclave. "It (plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investigation into it... It is being probed from all angles, including any possible sabotage. The CCTV footages are being reviewed, and all angles are being assessed... several agencies are working on it," he said. The minister called the crash a "rare case". "It has never happened that both engines have shut down together," he said, referring to claims by veteran pilots and experts that a dual engine failure may have led to the crash. "Once the (probe) report comes, we will be able to ascertain if it was an engine problem or fuel supply issue or why both the engines had stopped functioning. There is a CVR (cockpit voice recorder) in the black box which has stored the conversation between the two pilots. It is too early to say anything but whatever it is, it will come out. The report will come in three months," he added. Mohol dismissed reports that the black box will be sent abroad for scrutiny. "It will not go anywhere. It is in AAIB's custody and there is no need to send it outside. We will do the entire investigation," he said. He said it was natural for passengers to develop apprehensions over air travel immediately after the Air India plane crash. "But let me tell you... all 33 Dreamliners have been inspected on the orders of the DGCA. Everything was found safe. That is why I said it was a rare accident. People are no longer scared and travelling comfortably," he said.
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Sabotage Angle Also Being Probed In Air India Crash Case: Union Minister
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing from all angles, including sabotage, the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed 274 people on board and on the ground last month, Minister of State (MoS) For Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said. Mr Mohol also said the black box of the Air India flight AI 171 that has been recovered is in AAIB's custody and will not be outside the country for a thorough assessment. The MoS was in conversation with NDTV's Jitendra Dixit at the Pune chapter of the Emerging Business Conclave when he made the remarks. "It (plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investigation into it... It is being probed from all angles, including any possible sabotage. The CCTV footage are being reviewed and all angles are being assessed... several agencies are working on it," he said. On June 12, London-bound AI 171, belonging to Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 fleet - crashed seconds after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Only one of the 242 passengers and crew members onboard survived the crash. Officials said the aircraft lost altitude soon after taking off at around 1.30pm. It crashed into the residential quarters of BJ Medical College doctors in Meghaninagar area before going up in flames, sending plumes of thick black smoke spiralling up in the air. Nine students and their relatives from the institute were among those who were killed in the accident on the ground. The pilot had issued a 'Mayday' distress call, denoting a full emergency, soon after takeoff, the Air Traffic Control at Ahmedabad said. The minister called the crash a "rare case". "It has never happened that both engines have shut down together," he said, referring to claims by veteran pilots and experts that a dual engine failure may have led to the crash. "Once the (probe) report comes, we will be able to ascertain if it was an engine problem or fuel supply issue or why both the engines had stopped functioning. There is a CVR (cockpit voice recorder) in the black box which has stored the conversation between the two pilots. It is too early to say anything but whatever it is, it will come out. The report will come in three months," he added. A black box is a small device that records information about an aircraft during its flight. It helps in the investigation of aviation accidents. It comprises two devices - the CVR and the flight data recorder (FDR). Mr Mohol dismissed reports that the black box will be sent abroad for scrutiny. "It will not go anywhere. It is in AAIB's custody and there is no need to send it outside. We will do the entire investigation," he said. He said it was natural for passengers to develop apprehensions over air travel immediately after the Air India plane crash. "But let me tell you... all 33 Dreamliners have been inspected on the orders of the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation). Everything was found safe. That is why I said it was a rare accident. People are no longer scared and travelling comfortably," he said. Besides the crash, the minister spoke on issues such as 419 technical vacancies in the DGCA, the alleged exploitation of pilots by private airlines and on means to make air travel cheaper. "The DGCA will soon begin working on the issue of technical vacancies," he said. Asked if private airlines can make key appointments on their own, he said: "No appointments can be made without the DGCA's approval. Private airlines cannot take whoever they want. You need certain qualifications, etc." He also said a pilot working for a private airline can approach the Civil Aviation Ministry if he or she feels harassed over working long hours. Asked how air travel and food sold across airports can be made cheaper, he said: "The people will get food at cheap rates... Four to five airports have Udaan Yatri Cafes where you get water for Rs 10, tea and samosas for Rs 20 for tea... these will gradually expand."
NDTV
28-04-2025
- Business
- NDTV
How Can MSMEs Help Deal With Tariff War? Naina Lal Kidwai Explains
New Delhi: Apparel, made-ups, footwear, furniture, and electronics are among the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sectors that are likely to benefit from the reciprocal tariffs, said Naina Lal Kidwai, Past President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Ms Kidwai was speaking at NDTV's Emerging Business Conclave, Delhi Edition, where she discussed India's growth story - making India a developed nation by 2047, but not without full participation of women entrepreneurs. Referring to a study by FICCI, Ms Kidwai listed the negative impacts of tariffs and where the opportunity lies. "Apparel, made-ups, footwear, not just leather footwear, it's synthetic footwear as well, electronics and furniture would be areas to see India's export potential. Gems and jewellery are looking very difficult, as in one that is negatively impacted. Marine, tea, honey, bakery products, dairy, spices, guar gum, carpets and medical devices are negatively impacted," she said. "There's a whole bunch of sectors which are not impacted, this includes pharmaceuticals, steel, aluminium, copper, automobile, auto components, but I would just add as of now because it's not as if these are not in the crosshairs," she added. Further talking about India's export potential, Ms Kidwai said, it can happen through direct connect, e-commerce, which is an enabler, government policy, which I think is required to help and aid. Finance and access to finance play a role in how MSMEs perform. The data shows that the finance gap in MSMEs is 5.7 trillion. Women-led enterprises in the MSME sector represent 23 per cent of all MSMEs, but they account for 32 per cent of the finance gap. What keeps lenders away from financing women entrepreneurs? Ms Kidwai believes that the gap is closing and credits it to the government programmes focused on programmes to help women entrepreneurs and women start-ups. She further asked for data to see how women entrepreneurs and women-led MSMEs perform vis-a-vis male-dominated ones. "I would think that the collective data there would show that it's at least equivalent, if not better, but the perceptions that have been there and the ability of bankers and financiers to address this predilection to favour male-dominated industries remain," she added. Talking about the progress made, Ms Kidwai said, "In the startup industry, there is a favouring certainly by the offshore venture capitalists and even the private equity firms to favour industries or startups which have at least one woman in the core founding group." Ms Kidwai, however, believes that women have proven themselves in the banking sector and that no discrimination exists there. "The system will throw up the best, and they will come through the system in the natural course as the next CEOs and heads," she added. Lots of prominent women are heading finance companies, NBFCs, insurance companies, asset management companies, and banks, she said. When asked how more women can be pushed into the workforce, Ms Kidwai focused on employment. "Employment of men and women, job creation, and the MSMEs become critical in terms of what manufacturing means for employment. I don't believe big manufacturing is ever going to create jobs. For 50,000 crores in an aluminium plant, you may employ 200 people. The capital investment versus employment for large industries is never going to give India what we want in terms of job employment, but what we do need is the supply chain that will go into these large companies which will generate more employment and the MSME sector stand alone as they are in terms of employment generation," she said. Ms Kidwai suggested India ramp up its exports and become a strong export story. "India is not a big success story on exports except services... It has a bit to do with finances, logistics, paperwork and bureaucracy. How do we clean this up to truly be an exporter to the world? That is where MSMEs have to play a critical role," she said.
