Ahmedabad Air India Crash Investigation To Be Concluded In Three Months, Says Aviation Minister
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is currently investigating the technical side of the incident.
The government has set a deadline of three months to conclude the investigation into the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash that claimed over 250 lives on Thursday afternoon.
“Within three months we will try to bring the investigation to a conclusion. All theories around this crash will be analysed,” Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu said during a press briefing in New Delhi on Saturday.
While the recovery of the black box is expected to offer key insights into the possible reasons of the crash, urgent safety inspections and security checks are also being conducted across the fleet of 34 Boeing 787's that are operated by Indian carriers.
Of the 34 Boeing 787's, only eight have undergone checks at the moment, the Minister added. However, no concrete evidence or data has been able to give any clue on possible reasons behind the crash as of Saturday, officials from the Aviation Ministry said on the condition of anonymity. Findings from this process will feed into broader safety recommendations.
Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu also gave an update on the rescue and relief teams that have been deployed by the government in the last 48 hours.
A technical investigation is being led by the Directorate General of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Additionally a high-level committee has also been constituted to coordinate all aspects of the probe. Chaired by the Union Home Secretary, a team with representatives from the Gujarat government, the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Director General of Civil Aviation, a Special Director from the Intelligence Bureau and the Directorate of Forensic Services.
“The entire accident area has been cordoned off. The investigation is going smoothly,” said Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha. Air India, which operated the ill-fated flight, has been directed to extend full support to investigators and offer all necessary assistance to the families affected by the tragedy.
