A high-level multi-disciplinary committee established by the Centre to probe the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad will submit its findings within three months, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said on Tuesday.
The ill-fated Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI-171), which was en route to London, crashed moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12. The aircraft, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members, plunged into the campus of BJ Medical College. Only one person survived, while 241 individuals onboard and 29 on the ground lost their lives, according to official figures.
Speaking to the media, Mohol said that a committee led by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan is conducting the investigation. “The probe is underway, and several fine details will be examined. A comprehensive analysis will be done after retrieving and decoding the black box. The report is expected to be submitted within three months,” he stated.
The aircraft’s black box, which includes the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), has already been recovered. Investigators hope the data will provide crucial insights into the circumstances that led to the tragic crash.
Boeing Dreamliners under scrutiny
The Minister also addressed safety checks on Air India's fleet, revealing that the airline operates 34 Boeing 787 Dreamliners. “Instructions have been issued to inspect all 34 Dreamliner aircraft. So far, 10 to 12 have been examined, and no issues have been detected,” Mohol added.
Amid concerns about aircraft safety, officials have not ruled out any possibilities, including mechanical failure, multiple bird strikes, simultaneous loss of thrust in both engines, or a malfunction in the wing flaps. Investigative agencies are exploring all these angles.
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Multi-agency and international probes
The high-level committee formed by the Centre aims to identify the root cause of the crash and evaluate contributing factors, including human error, mechanical faults, and lapses in regulatory compliance. The Civil Aviation Ministry has clarified that this panel will function independently and will not replace other ongoing investigations.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is also conducting a parallel technical investigation into the crash. Sources confirmed that the high-level panel convened its first meeting in Delhi on Monday, where stakeholders discussed the crash and considered standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In addition to Indian agencies, the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated its own parallel probe under international aviation protocols, as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is manufactured in the US. The NTSB, an independent federal agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents, has sent experts to India to assist in the investigation. Their role includes determining probable causes and offering safety recommendations to avert future tragedies.
Mohol also updated reporters on the status of victim identification. “Hospitals in Ahmedabad have collected 270 DNA samples. So far, 70 to 80 bodies have been identified and handed over to their families,” he said. As the investigation continues on multiple fronts, authorities hope the black box analysis and combined efforts of national and international experts will soon shed light on the causes behind one of India’s deadliest aviation disasters in recent history.
Also Read: Post Ahmedabad crash, Boeing's reputation nosedives further
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