**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 59 in Lok Sabha concerning aviation safety norms, scheduled for response on January 29th, 2026. It outlines the government's actions regarding the independence of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the implementation of the Air Marshal J.K. Seth Committee recommendations, transparency in accident investigation reports, attribution of accidents to pilot error, and the maintenance of cause-wise data on aviation accidents. The response is provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **AAIB Independence:**
* The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was established as an independent body in July 2012 to ensure functional autonomy and independence in conducting investigations.
* The Director General (DG) of AAIB is vested with the administration of AAIB.
* **Air Marshal J.K. Seth Committee:**
* One key recommendation of the committee was to transfer the investigation of air accidents from the DGCA's jurisdiction to an independent body.
* This recommendation was implemented with the establishment of AAIB in 2012.
* **Accident Investigation Process:**
* AAIB conducts investigations according to the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents & Incidents) Rules and ICAO Annex 13.
* Investigations are fair, impartial, and judicious, analyzing all aspects to determine the probable cause and contributing factors.
* **Transparency and Data Availability:**
* Final investigation reports are uploaded on the AAIB website and are available to the public immediately after completion.
* Cause-wise details of completed investigations for the last twenty years are available on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation website (January 2006 to July 2012) and the AAIB website (July 2012 to the present).
**Impact Analysis**
**AAIB**
* **Impact:** The AAIB is now an independent body with the authority to conduct impartial investigations of aviation accidents.
* **Action Required:** Continue conducting fair and judicious investigations and upload the final investigation reports on the AAIB website immediately after completion.
**Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)**
* **Impact:** The DGCA has had its purview of accident investigations reduced.
* **Action Required:** Maintain the accessibility of cause-wise details of completed investigations from January 2006 to July 2012 on its website.
**General Public**
* **Impact:** Increased transparency through public availability of accident investigation reports.
* **Action Required:** Access final investigation reports on the AAIB website after completion.
Key Entities Referenced
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB): The independent body established by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2012 to investigate aircraft accidents.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The primary ministry responsible for aviation safety norms and oversight.
Air Marshal J.K. Seth Committee (1997): A committee whose findings relate to aviation safety oversight.
Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents & Incidents) Rules: Rules governing the investigation of aircraft accidents and incidents by the AAIB.
ICAO Annex 13: International Civil Aviation Organization's standard relevant to aircraft accident investigation
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 59
th
(To be answered on the 29 January 2026)
AVIATION SAFETY NORMS
59. SHRI S JAGATHRATCHAKAN
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government recognises that the Aircraft Accident Investigation
Bureau (AAIB) functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation and if so, the reasons
for not ensuring its institutional independence despite past recommendations;
(b) whether the key findings of the Air Marshal J.K. Seth Committee (1997) on
aviation safety oversight remain unimplemented and if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has reviewed delays and lack of transparency in the
release of accident investigation reports and if so, the details thereof along with the
steps taken to ensure timely and public disclosure;
(d) whether investigations repeatedly attribute accidents to pilot error there by
ignoring systemic lapses in regulation, maintenance and manufacturing defects and
if so, the details thereof along with the corrective measures being taken in this regard;
and
(e) whether the Government has maintained cause-wise data on aviation accidents
during the last twenty years and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)(a) to (e): Ministry of Civil Aviation established Aircraft Accident Investigation
Bureau (AAIB) as an independent body in July, 2012, to ensure functional autonomy
and independence in conduct of investigations. The administration of AAIB is vested
with the Director General (DG), AAIB.
One of the key recommendation of Air Marshal J. K. Seth committee was to entrust
investigation of air accidents from the DGCA's purview to an independent body,
which was implemented through the establishment of AAIB in 2012.
AAIB carries out investigations as per the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents &
Incidents) Rules and ICAO Annex 13. Any investigation carried out under these
rules, are fair, impartial and judicious. Each and every aspect is analysed in order to
bring out the probable cause and contributory factors leading to the accident. All the
final investigation reports are uploaded on the AAIB website and available to the
public immediately after completion of the investigation.
The cause-wise details of the completed investigations in last twenty years are
available on website of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (from January 2006 to
July 2012) and AAIB (from July 2012 to till date).
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