Parliament Question: Independent AAIB investigation

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1799 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9th March 2026 INDEPENDENT AAIB INVESTIGATION

1799. SHRI SAKET GOKHALE

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-

(a) whether five of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) investigators probing the AI171 crash are serving DGCA officers i.e., from the body that certified the aircraft and regulated Air India pre-crash;

(b) whether this is consistent with Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention and the Supreme Court's direction for a "free, fair, independent" probe;

(c) steps Government has taken to permanently separate the AAIB from the DGCA structurally and administratively; and

(d) whether a timeline exists for legislative or executive action to this effect and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (d): The Investigator-in-Charge (IIC) investigating Air India accident to AI-171 is from Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The investigation is being carried out under the direct control of AAIB.

AAIB carries out investigations as per Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents & Incidents) Rules, 2025 and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 13.

The Government established AAIB on 30 July 2012 in accordance with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and was given statutory status through the Aircraft (Amendment) Act, 2020 which has been retained in the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. The organisation of AAIB is separate from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

******