GoI constitutes high-level Committee to probe Air India Flight AI-171 Crash

STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
NEW DELHI, JUNE 14 (STC): Government of India has constituted a High-Level Multi-Disciplinary Committee to investigate the causes and circumstances surrounding the the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI-171 near Ahmedabad shortly after take-off on June 12. The Committee has been given a timeline of three months to submit its report.
Notably, the Committee is not intended to replace ongoing investigations by other statutory bodies but will complement them by focusing on policy formulation and operational readiness.
An official order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs states that the Committee has been tasked with ascertaining the root cause of the crash and assessing contributing factors such as mechanical failure, human error, weather conditions, and compliance with aviation regulations. It will also review existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and recommend comprehensive guidelines to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The Union Home Secretary will chair the Committee and will include top-level officials from both the central and state governments, including:
Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation
Additional/Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs
Representatives from Gujarat’s Home Department and Disaster Response Authority
Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad
DG, Inspection and Safety, Indian Air Force
DG, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)
DG, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
Special Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB)
Director, Directorate of Forensic Science Services
Additional experts including aviation specialists, accident investigators, and legal advisors may be co-opted
The panel’s scope includes evaluating the emergency response by Central and State authorities, reviewing coordination during rescue operations, and studying previous air crashes to draw relevant insights. The Committee will have full access to flight data recorders, cockpit voice recordings, maintenance logs, ATC records, and witness testimonies. It will also interview flight crew and air traffic control staff, and collaborate with international agencies if required.
(STC)