Govt to investigate sabotage, technical, and operational factors in Air India Crash: Retd. Air Force Captain

New Delhi, June 14: As the Government of India constituted a high-level committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the Ahmedabad plane crash, post meeting, Retired Air Force Group Captain Uttam Kumar Devnath on Saturday said that the high-level committee investigating the Ahmedabad Plane Crash will explore various angles, including terrorism, sabotage, technical issues, and pilot error.

Speaking to ANI, Devnath stated that the move reflects the government's seriousness in uncovering the root cause of the tragic incident.

He said, "The government has made a big decision to check this accident through a terrorist angle, sabotage angle, technical angle, operations angle, and pilot error angle. It is also possible that this accident might have been caused by a bird hit."

He further informed that top officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have already been deployed to Ahmedabad to lead the investigation.

"That's why the government sent top investigators from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to Ahmedabad. They will take possession of the digital flight data recorder. Similarly, a cockpit voice recorder has also been found and will be examined," he said.

In addition to reviewing the flight data, investigators will also collect and test samples of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) from the crash site to determine whether fuel quality or contamination played a role.

"Apart from this, they will also go where the debris of the crashed flight is and take samples from aviation turbine fuel (ATF)," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, the government constituted a high-level multidisciplinary committee for examining the causes leading to the crash of Air India Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick Airport (London) on June 12, that left 241 people dead.

"The Committee will examine the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines issued to prevent and handle such occurrences and suggest comprehensive guidelines for dealing with such instances in the future," an order issued by the Civil Aviation Ministry read.

Meanwhile, Officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) arrived in Ahmedabad, where the London-bound Air India flight crashed.

The AAIB, a division under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is responsible for probing aircraft accidents in India and has launched a formal investigation into the matter.

On Thursday, the AI-171 Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft, bound for London's Gatwick, crashed shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad International Airport on Thursday. The airline said 241 people on board the aircraft died in the crash, while only one passenger survived.

Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments for the Air India crash article:

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Rahul K.

This is heartbreaking 💔. As someone who frequently flies Air India, I'm glad the government is investigating all angles properly. We need to know if this was preventable - whether it's maintenance issues, pilot training or something more sinister. Safety must be priority #1.

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Priya M.

The bird hit theory seems unlikely for such a massive crash. Our airports need better wildlife management systems. Remember the famous "Miracle on the Hudson" where the plane landed safely after bird strike? Why couldn't our pilots do the same? Questions need answers.

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Arjun S.

While investigation is important, we must also think of the victims' families. 241 lives lost is unacceptable. The government should announce proper compensation immediately. Also, why was there only 1 survivor? This raises serious questions about emergency protocols.

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Sunita P.

As an aviation enthusiast, I'm curious about the Dreamliner's maintenance records. These are modern aircraft with advanced systems. Was proper maintenance being done? Or are we cutting corners like some private airlines were accused of doing? Hope the investigation is transparent.

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Vikram J.

The sabotage angle shouldn't be dismissed lightly given our geopolitical situation. Remember the 1985 Air India bombing? However, we must wait for evidence before jumping to conclusions. The investigators should take their time but be thorough.

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Neha R.

While the committee formation is good, I hope this isn't just for show. We've seen many committees in the past that led nowhere. The report must be made public and action taken against whoever is responsible, whether it's individuals or systemic failures. Jai Hind!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.