AAIB to complete Air India crash report by October

Air India crash: Draft final report will be ready by October, AAIB tells Supreme Court The Supreme Court of India has been informed by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) that the draft final report into the Air India crash that occurred in May will be completed by October of this year. The information was provided in the form of an affidavit, which detailed the progress made in the investigation so far. The affidavit filed by the AAIB has provided an update on the investigation into the Air India Express flight that crash-landed at Kerala’s Kozhikode airport in August last year, killing 21 people on board and another five on the ground..

The court had sought clarification on several aspects, including the status of the investigation and the expected timeline for completing the final report. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has stated that it had already held a series of interviews with the surviving crew members, as well as some of the passengers who were on board the flight. In addition, various technical and documentary evidence were also obtained and analyzed, including data from the flight’s black boxes..

However, the AAIB has revealed that the technical analysis of the cockpit voice recordings and airborne image recordings is still under way. The affidavit stated that there is an absolute statutory prohibition on the public disclosure of these critical data until the investigation is complete. The statutory prohibition is a key aspect of the investigation, and the AAIB has explained that it is a regulatory requirement to prevent the public disclosure of sensitive information that could compromise the safety of future flights..

The branch has also explained that only the families of the victims, as well as those involved in the investigation, may be given access to the recordings and data. In its affidavit, the AAIB has provided a detailed timeline of the investigation, including the steps that have been taken so far and the milestones that are expected to be achieved in the coming months. The draft final report, it has said, will be completed by October and a final report will follow soon after..

The Supreme Court is set to hear the matter again in the coming months, where it will review the progress made in the investigation and determine the next course of action. The court had taken cognizance of the investigation in the wake of the tragedy, and has been monitoring its progress closely. The crash of the Air India Express flight has raised several questions about aviation safety in India, and led to a thorough overhaul of safety protocols at the country’s airports..

In addition, several measures have been taken by the civil aviation regulator to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. The AAIB has been working closely with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to gather evidence and interview witnesses. The investigation has also been supported by other organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)..

The Air India Express crash has also raised questions about pilot training and airline safety procedures. The incident highlights the need for more stringent safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. In response, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken several enforcement actions against Air India and other airlines..

While the investigation is ongoing, the families of the victims are still seeking justice and closure. The crash has been a devastating blow to the families of those who lost their lives, and they are waiting eagerly to know the cause of the tragedy. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has assured the Supreme Court that it is working closely with the families of the victims to keep them updated on the progress of the investigation..

The AAIB has also said that it will ensure that the families are provided with all the necessary information and support during this difficult time. The completion of the final report by the AAIB will provide a comprehensive account of the cause of the crash and the factors that contributed to it. This will also help in taking corrective measures to prevent such incidents in the future..

In conclusion, the AAIB has provided a detailed update on the investigation into the Air India Express crash. The draft final report is expected to be completed by October this year, following which the investigation will be completed..