Government has set up a high-level committee to investigate the tragic Air India Ahmedabad plane crash. Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu in a meeting on June 14 said the committee headed by the home secretary will carry out a detailed investigation and submit its report in three months.
“A high-level multi-disciplinary committee is constituted to examine the causes leading to the crash,” said the Ministry of Civil Aviation in a statement.
The committee, which is set to meet for the first time on June 16, will examine the existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines issued to prevent and handle such accidents. The panel will conduct an in-depth study of all records, including flight data, cockpit voice recorders, aircraft maintenance records, air traffic control (ATC) logs, and witness testimonies. It will do inspections of the area where the Air India plane crashed, interview crew, air traffic controllers (ATCOs), and relevant personnel.
“[the committee] will assess contributing factors, including mechanical failure, human error, weather conditions, regulatory compliances and other reasons to ascertain the root cause of the crash,” said the ministry.
The committee will go through the records of previous such aircraft crashes in India and study the existing framework regarding the handling of such incidents. Along with this, it is also tasked to examine the emergency response of various stakeholders, including the central and state governments.