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The Ministry of Civil Aviation formed a committee to investigate the Air India Flight AI-171 crash on June 12, which caused 274 deaths, and recommend improved SOPs.
Identification of the 241 people killed in Air India crash in Ahmedabad is currently in process. (AP Photo)
The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the causes of the fatal crash of Air India Flight AI-171, which occurred on June 12 en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, resulting in at least 274 fatalities, including 241 onboard and those on the ground.
According to the ministry, the panel will assess the circumstances leading to the crash and evaluate existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and safety guidelines currently in place.
In a post on X, the ministry said that the committee’s primary objective is to recommend a robust framework for preventing and effectively managing similar aviation incidents in the future.
The ministry also clarified that this Committee will not be a substitute for other enquiries being conducted by relevant organisations, but will focus on formulating SOPs for preventing and handling such occurrences in the future.
“The Committee will examine existing guidelines regarding handling such incidents and go through records of previous such aircraft crashes in the country. The Committee will formulate a comprehensive SOP and suggest the roles of all agencies and organisations of the Central and State Governments to deal with post-crash incident handling and management,” the statement added.
Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport, plummeting into a medical college hostel in a nearby residential area. Eyewitness footage captured the plane struggling to gain altitude before spiralling out of control and bursting into flames.
The flight was carrying 230 passengers, 169 Indians, 53 British nationals and 1 Canadian, along with 12 crew members. Only one person survived the disaster.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the crash site and met with injured survivors at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. Efforts to identify the deceased continue, with a team of 70-80 doctors conducting post-mortem examinations. To date, five victims have been identified, and their remains have been returned to their families.
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