AAIB releases preliminary probe report on Ahmedabad Air India plane crash

• India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a 15-page preliminary report on the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. 

• Flight AI 171 bound for London crashed into a medical hostel complex soon after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including 241 persons who were onboard the plane.

• One passenger survived the crash.

• According to the report, both switches feeding fuel to the two engines of Air India flight 171 were cut off followed by pilot confusion before the plane crashed in Ahmedabad, seconds after taking off.

• It said that one pilot asked why he had shut off the fuel, and the other responded he didn’t do it.

• The preliminary report recommended no action for now for the operators of Boeing 787-8 planes.

• In the report of the fatal plane accident that happened in around 30 seconds after take off, AAIB also said fuel samples taken from bowsers and tanks used to refuel the aircraft were tested at the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) Lab and were found satisfactory.

• The probe is continuing and the investigation team will review and examine additional evidence, records and information that is being sought from the stakeholders.

Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)

• In accordance with Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and to ensure independence of investigation from the regulatory function, the government of India decided to establish a bureau independent of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

• Keeping in mind the Indian scenario, the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules 2012 were formulated and notified on July 5, 2012. 

• In accordance with these Rules and for the purposes of carrying out investigation into accidents, serious incidents and incidents, the government of India set up the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in the Ministry of Civil Aviation on July 30, 2012.

• AAIB is an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

• At present, investigation works are carried out as per amended Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules 2017 as AAIB has got immediate and unrestricted access to all relevant evidence without seeking prior consent from judicial bodies or other government authorities.

• All accidents and serious incidents involving aircraft with all-up weight (AUW) more than 2,250 kg or turbojet aircraft are investigated by AAIB.

Functions of AAIB include:

• To facilitate the investigation and administrative work of the investigation whenever necessary.

• To formulate safety recommendations on the basis of safety studies, including induction of new technology to enhance safety, conducted from time to time.

• To establish and maintain an accident and serious incident database for effective analysis of information on actual or potential safety deficiencies. 

• To forward the recommendations made in investigation reports and safety studies to DGCA and other regulatory authorities for their follow up and to obtain compliance of the same.

• To inform International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) of the issuance of a Safety Recommendation of Global Concern (SRGC) and its responses in dated transmittal correspondence, even when the SRGC is not addressed to ICAO.

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