Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: A high-level team of international aviation investigators and Boeing representatives arrived in Ahmedabad on June 16 to support India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in examining the June 12 fatal crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The tragic incident claimed 241 lives, including passengers and crew on board.
The investigative delegation includes officials from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as confirmed by multiple sources. Their involvement is in accordance with global civil aviation norms, particularly Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which mandates collaboration with the aircraft’s country of manufacture and those with significant victim representation.
Among the deceased were 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 181 Indian citizens, including 12 crew members. The AAIB initiated a formal inquiry on the day of the crash, dispatching a five-member “Go Team” led by the Director General. This was later bolstered by forensic analysts, medical experts, and top officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), are also aiding the probe.
Earlier, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), commonly known as a black box, was recovered. The data is expected to offer critical insights into the aircraft’s final minutes. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which captures audio from inside the flight deck, has also been retrieved. Meanwhile, Boeing is coordinating with Indian authorities while deferring to the AAIB, as per international protocol. The US-based manufacturer will be joined by experts from GE Aerospace, the engine supplier for the aircraft, which has cancelled other engagements to prioritise the investigation in India.
