Govt Sets 3-Month Deadline for Air India Crash Probe

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu announced a three-month deadline for the probe into the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, which killed 241 of the 242 people onboard. Naidu stated that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) would lead the technical investigation, including decoding the recently recovered black box to uncover what happened in the seconds before the crash.

The black box, essential for determining flight path, cockpit audio, and engine performance, is being analyzed by AAIB experts. Naidu emphasized its role in gaining a detailed understanding of the incident. A second recorder and cockpit DVR are also being pursued for further insight.

Naidu expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of victims, acknowledging the emotional toll the disaster has taken on the nation. “The entire country is shaken,” he said. He added that government officials—including from Gujarat and the central administration—responded quickly, with rescue teams on the ground immediately after the crash, working through fire and wreckage to recover bodies and provide medical support.

Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London, crashed just after takeoff, slamming into hostel buildings and staff quarters of a medical college. The sole survivor, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, remains under treatment. As multiple agencies, including DGCA and Boeing, collaborate in the investigation, aviation authorities hope to present a complete, outcome-based report within three months.