Executive Summary:
This document outlines the Indian government's response to the Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. It details the ongoing investigation led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), actions taken by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the formation of a high-level committee to recommend improvements. A preliminary report was published on July 12, 2025, and the high-level committee is expected to submit its report within three months of its constitution on June 13, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Investigation into Air India Flight 171:
* The Director General, AAIB, ordered an investigation under Rule 11 of the Aircraft Investigation of Accidents Incidents Rules, 2017.
* Data from one of the Flight Recorders has been downloaded in the Flight Recorder Laboratory of the AAIB.
* AAIB published a preliminary report on July 12, 2025, available on their website www.aaib.gov.in.
* The investigation is in progress to determine the probable causes and contributory factors leading to the accident.
DGCA Actions and Oversight:
* DGCA maintains comprehensive civil aviation regulations, continuously updated and aligned with ICAO/EASA standards.
* A structured surveillance and audit framework is in place, including regular audits, spot checks, night surveillance, and ramp inspections.
* DGCA takes enforcement action for violations as per its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.
* DGCA directed Air India to remove 03 personnel from crew scheduling duties.
Safety Measures and Infrastructure:
* Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) of Ahmedabad airport have been established per ICAO standards.
* Regular obstacle surveys of Ahmedabad Airport are conducted as part of Aerodrome Licensing requirements.
High-Level Committee:
* A committee was constituted on June 13, 2025, under the chairmanship of the Union Home Secretary.
* The committee is to suggest comprehensive guidelines for dealing with such instances in the future, post the Air India Flight AI171 incident.
* The committee is to submit its report within three months.
* Key objectives include recommending improvements, suggesting policy changes, and assessing emergency response.
Transparency:
* The document indicates an intention to ensure transparency, though it does not explicitly state that the findings of the High-Level Committee will be made public.
Impact Analysis:
Air India:
* Impact: Subject to investigation and potential enforcement actions for safety protocol lapses, aircraft maintenance, regulatory oversight, pilot duty scheduling, or overdue maintenance. Removal of 03 personnel from crew scheduling duties.
* Action Required: Cooperate with the AAIB investigation, implement DGCA directives, and address any identified safety protocol violations.
DGCA:
* Impact: Responsible for maintaining and updating civil aviation regulations, conducting surveillance and audits, and taking enforcement actions.
* Action Required: Continue to oversee Air India's operations and maintenance practices, and enforce regulations as needed.
AAIB:
* Impact: Responsible for investigating the Air India Flight 171 crash and determining its causes.
* Action Required: Complete the investigation, finalize the report, and publish findings.
Union Home Secretary (Chairman of High-Level Committee):
* Impact: Responsible for leading the high-level committee to recommend improvements and formulate suitable SOPs to prevent future incidents.
* Action Required: Lead the committee, gather necessary information, and submit the report within three months.
Central and State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for emergency response, rescue operations, and coordination.
* Action Required: Cooperate with the High-Level Committee's assessment of emergency response and implement any recommended improvements.
Key Entities Referenced
Air India Flight 171: The Air India flight that crashed in Ahmedabad on 12th June 2025, triggering investigations and inquiries.
Ahmedabad Airport: The airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where the Air India Flight 171 crashed, leading to concerns about nearby tall structures and obstacle limitation surfaces.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): The civil aviation regulatory authority in India responsible for ensuring safety protocols, aircraft maintenance, and regulatory oversight.
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO): A specialized agency of the United Nations that sets international standards and regulations for aviation safety and security, including safety norms and obstacle limitation surfaces.
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB): The agency responsible for investigating aircraft accidents and incidents in India, including the Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad.
Shri Murlidhar Mohol: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Union Home Secretary: The chairman of the High-Level Committee constituted to suggest comprehensive guidelines for dealing with instances similar to the Air India Flight AI171 incident.
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA): An agency of the European Union (EU) with responsibility for civil aviation safety. DGCA regulations are aligned with ICAO and EASA standards.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
Lok Sabha
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 749
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24th July 2025 )
ICAO SAFETY NORMS
749. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN
SHRI AMRA RAM
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the status of the investigation into the Air India Flight 171 crash
in Ahmedabad on 12th June 2025, including the progress of black
box analysis and preliminary findings regarding possible causes
such as engine failure, landing gear malfunction or sabotage;
(b) the measures taken by the Government and the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure accountability for lapses
in safety protocols, aircraft maintenance or regulatory oversight;
(c) whether the Government has taken any action against Air India
for violations related to pilot duty scheduling or overdue
maintenance as flagged by the DGCA and if so, the details thereof;
(d) the steps taken to address concerns regarding tall structures
located near the Ahmedabad airport?s flight path and their
compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
safety norms;
(e) the scope and timeline of the high-level inquiry Committee
constituted in connection with the incident; and
(f) whether the findings of the said Committee would be made public
in order to ensure transparency and restore public confidence in
aviation safety and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWERMinister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): An investigation has been ordered by the Director General,
Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under Rule 11 of the
Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents & Incidents) Rules, 2017 to
determine the probable cause(s)/contributory factor(s) leading to
accident of Air India flight AI-171 at Ahmedabad on 12.06.2025.;
;
The data from one of the Flight Recorders of AI-171 (VT-ANB) has
been downloaded in the Flight Recorder Laboratory of the AAIB at
Udaan Bhawan.;
;
A preliminary report on the accident has been published by AAIB on
12th July, 2025 and is available on their website www.aaib.gov.in.;
;
The investigation is in progress to determine the probable
cause(s)/contributory factor(s) leading to the accident.;
;
(b): Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has a
comprehensive and structured civil aviation regulations for safe
operation of aircraft and its maintenance. These regulations are
continuously updated and aligned with the International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO)/European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) standards. ;
DGCA also has a structured surveillance and audit framework in
place i.e. planned and unplanned surveillance of organization
/aircraft, which includes regular and periodic audits, spot checks,
night surveillance and ramp inspections across all operators,
including continuous oversight of maintenance practices. In case
there is a violation, DGCA takes enforcement action as per its
Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.;
;
(c): DGCA has directed M/s Air India to remove 03 personnel from all
duties, roles and responsibility related to crew scheduling.;
;
(d): To ensure safety of aircraft operation during landing and take-
off from airport, Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) of Ahmedabadairport have been established in line of International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) standards and notified vide GSR 751 (E).
Further, as part of Aerodrome Licensing requirements to monitor &
control these established Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS),
obstacle survey of Ahmedabad Airport is carried out regularly.;
;
(e) & (f): A High-Level Committee was constituted on 13.06.2025
under the chairmanship of the Union Home Secretary to suggest
comprehensive guidelines for dealing with such instances in the
future post Air India Flight AI-171 incident. The Committee is to
submit its report within three months.;
;
The key objectives of the Committee are given below:;
1) Recommend necessary improvements and formulate suitable SOP
to prevent such incidents in the future.
2) Suggest policy changes, operational improvements and training
enhancements required to prevent such occurrences and handle
post-crash incident situation.
3) Assess emergency response of various stakeholders (both
Central and State Governments), including rescue operations, and
coordination among them.
******