Ahmedabad Plane Crash: Government forms high-level panel to probe Air India AI171 crash, review aviation SOPs
The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed minutes after takeoff on June 12, claiming at least 265 lives and injuring several others.
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08:27 AM IST
In the wake of one of the worst aviation disasters in India’s recent history, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Saturday announced the formation of a high-level multi-disciplinary committee to probe the tragic crash of Air India Flight AI171. The ill-fated Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, operating from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed minutes after takeoff on June 12, claiming at least 265 lives and injuring several others.
The ministry said the newly formed committee will examine the circumstances that led to the crash and evaluate the adequacy of existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and aviation safety guidelines. The announcement was made via a post on X (formerly Twitter), where the ministry emphasised that the committee’s primary focus will be on suggesting robust measures to prevent and manage such incidents in the future.
“The Committee will not be a substitute to other enquiries being conducted by relevant organisations but will focus on formulating SOPs for preventing and handling such occurrences in the future," the ministry clarified.
The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport when the aircraft reportedly failed to gain adequate altitude and spiraled into a fiery collision with a medical college hostel in a nearby residential locality. Eyewitness footage circulated on social media showed the plane struggling in the air moments before the crash.
Flight AI171 was carrying 230 passengers—including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, and one Canadian—along with 12 crew members. Tragically, only one person is reported to have survived.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site on Friday and later met with survivors undergoing treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. A massive identification effort is underway, with 70-80 doctors involved in post-mortem procedures. As of now, five victims have been identified and their remains handed over to their families.
A formal investigation has been launched to determine the root cause of the crash. Forensic teams are combing through the debris, and statutory aviation bodies are conducting parallel technical investigations.
The independent high-level committee is expected to submit its recommendations in the coming weeks.
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