Air India flight AI 171: How the Ahmedabad air crash is going to be investigated

The deadly air crash of Air India flight AI 171, which killed 241 people onboard and several others present in the medical college dorm where the plane struck, will be investigated by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Following the tragic crash in Ahmedabad, a formal investigation has been initiated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in line with international protocols set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Additionally, the government is going to constitute a “high-level committee” comprising experts from multiple disciplines to examine the matter in detail, Union minister of civil aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said in a statement. The committee will work to strengthen aviation safety and prevent such incidents in future, he said.

Calling the crash horrific, Naidu said a thorough investigation will be conducted and no stone will be left unturned in uncovering the cause and ensuring accountability. “We are going to do a fair and thorough investigation. We are not going to spare anyone. We are not going to leave any stone unturned. We are going to go to the depth of why this incident has happened,” the minister told reporters.

While the air crash has baffled many experts who speculated that a rare double engine failure could have caused the loss of power, more details will emerge when the plane’s flight data recorder or black box is examined. Videos on social media showed that the aircraft was struggling to lift off in the air due to a possible lack of thrust. The aircraft climbed to a maximum recorded altitude of 625 feet before descending and then exploding.

The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft carried 230 passengers and 12 crew. Of these, only one passenger survived. The Air India flight was airborne for just 30 seconds before it crashed into a nearby medical college hostel building.

In the coming days, Indian investigators will work alongside specialists from the US and UK to find out the cause of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash.

In a statement on the Air India flight AI 171 crash, US aviation regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it is in contact with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding Air India flight AI-171, operating from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), that was involved in an accident in India on June 12.

“When an international incident occurs, that government leads the investigation. In the event assistance is requested, the NTSB is the official U.S. representative and the FAA provides technical support. We stand ready to launch a team immediately in coordination with the NTSB,” it said.

"At DOT (U.S. Department of Transport) and FAA, safety always comes first. In this investigation, we are going to follow facts. As the acting administrator will discuss, we are in the process of deploying a team from FAA, from the NTSB. We also have GE and Boeing, they are deploying their investigators to India. India leads the investigation. We are there to provide any assistance that India may need,” said US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy.

The Ahmedabad air crash marks the first time a Boeing 787 Dreamliner has met with a deadly accident.

In a statement, Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg said Boeing will defer to India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to provide information about Air India Flight 171, in adherence with the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization protocol. “I have spoken with Air India Chairman N. Chandrasekaran to offer our full support, and a Boeing team stands ready to support the investigation led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau,” Ortberg said.

Aircraft engine maker GE Aerospace said it has activated its emergency response team. “We are prepared to support our customer and the investigation,” the US-based engine maker said.

The passengers comprised 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 7 Portuguese nationals and 1 Canadian national. The survivor is a British national of Indian origin.

UK Civil Aviation Authority said it is supporting the government and other relevant authorities in responding to this incident. The London-bound flight had 53 British nationals aboard.