New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has submitted its preliminary report on the Air India flight AI171 crash to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other concerned authorities, according to top government sources. The report, based on initial assessments and early findings, is expected to be made public later this week.
The tragic accident occurred on June 12, when the London-bound Air India aircraft crashed into a medical college hostel just seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad airport. The crash claimed the lives of all 241 people on board and 19 individuals on the ground. One passenger miraculously survived.
Following the incident, a multi-disciplinary team from the AAIB initiated an investigation on the same day, under the orders of the AAIB Director General. As part of the process, a combined unit of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) was recovered from the crash site on June 13, while a second black box set was located on June 16, in accordance with the aircraft model's design to carry two sets.
International collaboration was initiated as per ICAO protocols. Investigators from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) teams arrived in India to assist with the inquiry. The investigation is examining the possibility of a dual-engine failure as a contributing factor to the crash.
The probe is being led by AAIB officials, with technical experts from the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the US NTSB participating. The investigation team also includes a specialist in aviation medicine and an Air Traffic Control officer. Representatives from Boeing and engine manufacturer GE contributed to the technical analysis. The NTSB team worked closely with Indian investigators at the AAIB Laboratory in Delhi.
Historically, black boxes from Indian aircraft accidents were sent abroad for decoding due to the absence of advanced domestic infrastructure. Countries like the US, UK, France, Italy, Canada, and Russia typically handled the data analysis. However, with the establishment of a fully equipped AAIB Lab in Delhi, India now has the capability to decode both flight data and cockpit voice recorders independently.
The findings of this high-profile investigation are likely to have significant implications for aviation safety protocols and future preventive measures.
With IANS inputs