New Delhi: The civil Aviation Ministry has formed a high-level committee to probe the Ahmedabad Air India plane crash, just 2 days after the tragedy. This high-level multi-disciplinary committee will investigate the causes of the crash of flight AI-171.
Committee to suggest SOPs to deal with future plane crashes
The committee will suggest comprehensive guidelines for improving the existing SOPs and dealing with any future such incidents. It will be headed by the Union Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs. Apart from him, the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, representatives from State Home Department, government of Gujarat, representative from State Disaster Response Authority from Gujarat will be part of the committee. The Commissioner of Police, Ahmedabad and Director General, Inspection and Security of the Indian Air Force will also be on the committee panel.
Apart from the above, the committee will also include, Director General, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security/DG BCAS, Director General, Directorate General of Civil Aviation/DG DGCA, IB Director and the Directorate of Forensic Science Services will also participate in the meetings of the committee.
The committee will also have the power to appoint any other members which it deems to be necessary on the panel. These can include aviation experts, accident investigators and legal advisors. The committee will have access to all records, including, among other things, flight data, cockpit voice recorders, aircraft maintenance records, ATC logs and testimony of witnesses.
The committee members will also visit the site of the plane crash for inspection. They will also interview the crew, air traffic controllers and related personnel. They will also cooperate with international investigators, if countries whose nationals perished in the tragedy decide to launch independent investigations.
The committee will submit its report in 3 months.
The Air India plane crash killed more than 200 people, though no official death toll has been released. Of the 242 people onboard the aircraft, which included crew, 241 died. The plane crashed within 30 seconds of taking off from the Ahmedabad airport.
