Will look into all theories behind crash: Aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu

Jun 15, 2025 11:19 AM IST

Naidu stated the Centre has additionally arrange a high-level multi-disciplinary panel to establish the “root cause” of the crash of the London-bound Air India flight 171

New Delhi: The authorities will look into all attainable theories of what may have prompted the Air India aircraft crash this week, aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated on Saturday throughout the federal government’s first briefing into the tragedy on Thursday – the deadliest of its type in three many years.

Union minister of civil aviation Ram Mohan Naidu (centre) at a press convention in New Delhi on Saturday. SANCHIT KHANNA/HT PHOTO

Naidu stated the Centre has additionally arrange a high-level multi-disciplinary panel to establish the “root cause” of the crash of the London-bound Air India flight 171 in Ahmedabad and assess any contributing components together with mechanical failure, human error and regulatory compliances, along with the probe performed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB).

The panel, headed by Union dwelling secretary Govind Mohan, was mandated to present its report in three months, Naidu stated.

Separately, officers stated India can be exploring plans to create a brand new “aviation safety board” on the strains of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an American company that has a large remit to probe accidents, together with the aviation sector.

One of those officers stated the brand new aviation security board will possible supervise different regulators within the sector, such because the director normal of civil aviation (DGCA).

The plan entails the collaboration of ministries of civil aviation and residential and it’s prone to be mentioned within the assembly of the committee headed by the house secretary. “The officials are discussing and trying to decide exactly what the responsibilities and limits of the safety board will have,” one in all these officers stated, including that the scrutiny may prolong to the insurance policies and rules of DGCA.

A second official added: “These (discussions on the constitution of the board) are initial talks and are aimed for the future. It will not be associated with the DGCA.”

To make sure, the AAIB is an unbiased aviation security physique, empowered with the power to make suggestions for future security. But the AAIB’s remit doesn’t cowl scrutiny of DGCA insurance policies.

The first individual quoted above stated that one of many proposals can be to herald transparency in aviation accident information and create a system just like the NTSB’s docket.

“There are autonomous bodies as safety boards. A need for a national safety board, legal autonomy, funding and international credibility is being discussed,” the second official stated.

A former official related to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a specialised company of the United Nations that units worldwide guidelines and requirements for civil aviation, stated: “There is no standard structure of a safety board in India and the need for having it has been discussed in the past,” he stated.

Officials stated that whereas discussions have simply begun, “It has to be seen what form does it take in the country: as a judicial authority or quasi-judicial or recommendatory nature”.