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Mint
7 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Air India Plane Crash: Parliamentary panel to discuss ‘civil aviation safety', other issues today
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture is scheduled to meet today. The deliberation will be held in Parliament's annexe on 'overall review of safety in the Civil Aviation sector'. The meeting is being held almost a month after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed over 260 people. The panel is expected to ask the Civil Aviation Ministry questions about the Air India crash and overall air safety issues. The panel may also want to know the probe into the accident by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Janata Dal-United (JD-U) Member of Parliament Sanjay Jha is the chairman of the panel. The Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, is also expected to attend today's meeting. News agency ANI said earlier this week that the AAIB has submitted its preliminary report on the crash to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other concerned authorities. The report is based on the initial findings of the ongoing investigation into the tragic incident. The 12 June crash, one of the worst air disasters in India in decades, involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Air India flight AI171. Of the 242 people onboard, 241 were killed, while the total death toll stood at 260, including casualties on the ground. On 8 July, another parliamentary committee, the Public Accounts Committee, headed by Congress MP KC Venugopal, inquired about the expected timeline for the investigation report on the crash and the analysis of the aircraft's black boxes. 'These are ongoing discussions regarding tariffs, flight fares… The safety aspect was also discussed. All members are very keen on asking questions on safety. This meeting will continue. Once they reply, we will meet again. Some of the questions on safety were answered by the DGCA [Directorate General of Civil Aviation],' Venugopal was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. 'We discussed the fare increase because we discussed the post-Pahalgam issue and during Kumbh (fare increase)… The committee asked about clear-cut regulations on fares and on fair play,' he said. Former civil aviation minister and NCP MP Praful Patel, who is among the committee members, emphasised that the DGCA was well equipped but needed more staff as it 'has a shortage of top-level skilled people'. 'We discussed the fare increase because we discussed the post-Pahalgam issue and during Kumbh (fare increase)… The committee asked about clear-cut regulations on fares and on fair play,' he added. Former civil aviation minister and NCP MP Praful Patel, who is among the committee members, emphasised that the DGCA was well equipped but needed more staff as it 'has a shortage of top-level skilled people'.
Mint
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Air India Plane Crash: Parliamentary panel to discuss ‘civil aviation safety,' other issues today
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture is scheduled to meet today. The deliberation will be held in Parliament's annexe on the subject 'overall review of safety in the Civil Aviation sector.' The meeting is being held almost a month after the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed over 260 people. The panel is expected to ask the Civil Aviation Ministry questions about the Air India crash and overall air safety issues. The panel may also want to know the probe into the accident by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Janata Dal-United (JD-U) Member of Parliament Sanjay Jha is the chairman of the panel. The Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, is also expected to attend today's meeting. News agency ANI said earlier this week that the AAIB has submitted its preliminary report on the crash to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other concerned authorities. The report is based on the initial findings of the ongoing investigation into the tragic incident. The June 12 crash, one of the worst air disasters in India in decades, involved a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operating as Air India flight AI171. Of the 242 people onboard, 241 were killed, while the total death toll stood at 260, including casualties on the ground. On July 8, another parliamentary committee, the Public Accounts Committee, headed by Congress MP KC Venugopal, inquired about the expected timeline for the investigation report on the crash and the analysis of the aircraft's black boxes. 'These are ongoing discussions regarding tariffs, flight fares… The safety aspect was also discussed. All members are very keen on asking questions on safety. This meeting will continue. Once they reply, we will meet again. Some of the questions on safety were answered by the DGCA [Directorate General of Civil Aviation],' Venugopal was quoted as saying by the Indian Express. 'We discussed the fare increase because we discussed the post-Pahalgam issue and during Kumbh (fare increase)… The committee asked about clear-cut regulations on fares and on fair play,' he said. Former civil aviation minister and NCP MP Praful Patel, who is among the committee members, emphasised that the DGCA was well equipped but needed more staff as it 'has a shortage of top-level skilled people'. 'We discussed the fare increase because we discussed the post-Pahalgam issue and during Kumbh (fare increase)… The committee asked about clear-cut regulations on fares and on fair play,' he added. Former civil aviation minister and NCP MP Praful Patel, who is among the committee members, emphasised that the DGCA was well equipped but needed more staff as it 'has a shortage of top-level skilled people'. The DGCA was well equipped but needed more staff as it has a shortage of top-level skilled people.
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Waiting for AI-171 crash probe report: Officials
Aviation ministry and Air India officials told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday they are 'eagerly waiting' for the preliminary investigation report into the June 12 crash that killed 260 people. On June 12, Air India flight 171 crashed moments after take-off, claiming the lives of all but one of the 242 passengers on board (REUTERS) The Public Accounts Committee session, originally scheduled to discuss infrastructure fees and tariffs, instead became the first parliamentary meeting to address the Air India Flight 171 tragedy and broader aviation safety concerns. The discussion came just days ahead of Friday's 30-day deadline for the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to report its preliminary findings into the crash of Flight 171, the cause of which is yet to be determined. Several MPs highlighted multiple air safety incidents that have occurred since the Ahmedabad crash, with one Opposition member demanding a special audit of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the ministry's security wing responsible for safety standards at airports nationwide, people aware of the conversations said. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal confirmed air safety dominated the proceedings, with lawmakers including former aviation minister Praful Patel, BJP's Ravishankar Prasad, and Congress's Shaktisinh Gohil pressing officials on investigation progress and systemic safety measures. Air India officials defended their Boeing 787 fleet, telling the committee the aircraft 'has been and is considered one of the safest aircraft in the world,' noting that 1,100 such planes are currently in service globally. Patel, drawing on his ministerial experience, called for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to address staffing shortages in senior positions. 'Safety is paramount. Anyone who flies wants to feel safe and assured that he will reach his destination,' he said. 'Indian aviation is safe. There is no need to be panicking about it. All airlines, including Air India, follow safety protocols,' he was quoted as saying. MPs posed detailed questions about the investigation's technical aspects, seeking information on team composition, including whether type-rated pilots and engineers for the Boeing 787 are involved in the probe, a person aware of the discussions told HT. They also enquired about the current status of digital flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder analysis, questioning whether the work is being conducted at AAIB's laboratory at Udaan Bhawan and its technical capabilities. Lawmakers further asked whether foreign agencies such as the US National Transportation Safety Board or the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch have been requested to assist the investigation. Officials are expected to provide written responses to the parliamentary queries.
India Today
08-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Aviation body understaffed at top level, can hire retired officials: Ex-minister
Former Civil Aviation Minister and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member Praful Patel on Tuesday flagged a shortage of senior skilled personnel in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), suggesting that retired officials be brought back on short tenures to strengthen oversight and maintain safety standards in Indian after the PAC meeting, Patel said, "Safety is paramount. Anyone who flies wants to be safe and assured that they will reach their destination. Many events took place in the wake of the Air India crash. Obviously, when a crash happens, everything is taken with sensitivity."advertisementHe, however, emphasised that Indian aviation remains safe and there is no need for panic. "Indian aviation is safe, and we don't need to panic. All airlines, including Air India, follow all safety protocols. DGCA is well equipped and does a very good job," Patel said. He added, "DGCA needs to have more people. It is facing a shortage of staff at the top level, of skilled people. Retired officials can be brought back to deal with this understaffing and ensure safety standards are fully compliant at the earliest. Maybe an audit of the entire sector or all the aircraft should be done at the earliest so that passenger confidence is restored."Patel made these remarks after a PAC meeting that was originally convened to discuss "levy charges at airports" but saw an intense focus on the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad. The London-bound flight AI 171 crashed into the BJ Medical College hostel building just seconds after take-off, killing 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew on board, and 19 people on the meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), DGCA, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Air India CEO Wilson Campbell and top officials from IndiGo and Akasa Air were also said MPs asked aviation authorities pointed questions about safety and demanded an immediate audit by BCAS. They sought details on the timeline for black box analysis and raised concerns about the probe committee's selection criteria, including whether foreign aviation experts had been India, in its submission to the PAC, defended the Boeing 787 Dreamliner involved in the crash, calling it one of the safest aircraft in operation and noting that more than 1,000 Dreamliners are flying worldwide. The airline said it was "deeply concerned" about the crash and was awaiting the official inquiry also flagged several safety incidents reported in May and June, along with what they described as the "high-handed behaviour" of private airlines. They pointed to a spike in flight fares following the Pahalgam terror attack and questioned regulatory oversight.- EndsMust Watch
India Gazette
08-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Dreamliner among safest aircraft, over 1100 in use worldwide, Air India officials tell parliamentary panel
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): Members at a meeting of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday expressed concern over air safety and surge in price of air tickets from Srinagar to other cities after the Pahalgam terror attack and sought clarifications from the officials present, sources said. The sources said members mentioned the Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, in which over 250 people were killed, and sought clarification on air safety. The sources stated that Air India officials conveyed that the Boeing Dreamliner aircraft, which crashed in Ahmedabad while en route to London, was one of the safest aircraft in the world. The officials are also learnt to have told the panel that over 1,100 Dreamliners are in use in different countries. The meeting was attended by officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA), Airports Authority of India (AAI), AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Ltd. (AAICLAS), and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Representatives of airport operators and airlines were also present. The agenda of the meeting was 'Levy and regulation of fees, tariffs, user charges on public infrastructure and other public utilities'. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson was among senior airline officials present at the meeting. Some MPs said the air fares had gone up drastically after the terror attack causing inconvenience and hardship to people. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Praful Patel asserted that there is no need to panic as all airlines, including Air India, follow safety protocols. However, Patel, a former Civil Aviation Minister, highlighted that there is need of more people in the DGCA as they are facing a shortage of top-level skilled manpower. 'Safety is paramount. Anyone who flies wants to feel safe and assured that he will reach his destination... Indian aviation is safe. There is no need to be panicking about it. All airlines, including Air India, follow safety protocols. DGCA is well-equipped and does a very good job. DGCA needs to have more people because they are facing a shortage of top-level skilled manpower. A lot of retired people can be brought back for a short period so that understaffing can be addressed at the higher level to ensure that the safety standards are complied with,' Praful Patel said. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal said airlines have given assurance to address concerns over surge pricing of air tickets. 'In the meeting, we talked about the Buddhist Circuit. There are very important places that are significant in Buddhism. All countries and places significant to Buddhism will be interconnected. Airfare hikes were also discussed, especially the ones post Pahalgam terror attack and during Maha Kumbh... Air safety was the most discussed issue... The black box investigation of the Ahmedabad plane crash is currently underway, and the Dreamliner is supposed to be one of the safest aircraft,' Pal said. Congress MP and PAC Chairperson KC Venugopal mentioned that the Committee has asked the airlines to have clear-cut regulations on fares. 'Everybody is concerned about the safety... We are discussing the increase in air fares also, especially post Pahalgam and during Kumbh... The committee has asked them to have clear-cut regulations on fares... DGCA and airlines were also part of the meeting,' Venugopal said. On June 12, Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. It struck a hostel building of BJ Medical College, killing 241 of the 242 people on board, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has submitted its preliminary report to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and other authorities. According to sources, the crash protection module (CPM) from one of the black boxes was retrieved, and the data was successfully downloaded on June 25 at the AAIB Lab in Delhi. To verify the data, an identical unit known as a 'golden chassis' was used. The investigation is being led by the AAIB Director General and includes experts from the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the US-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is the designated investigation body from the country of the aircraft's design. Aviation medicine and air traffic control experts are also part of the team. According to officials, this is the first time India is decoding black box data domestically. On June 25, the memory module was successfully accessed and its data was downloaded at the AAIB Lab, the official said. (ANI)
