Latest news with #Rebbapragada
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First Post
26-06-2025
- First Post
India yet to name lead investigator for Air India crash as probe timeline pressures mount
Under the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Annex 13, the appointment of an investigator-in-charge is required for the organisation, control, and conduct of an aircraft accident probe read more The tail of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane that crashed is seen stuck on a building after the incident in Ahmedabad, India, on June 12. In the aftermath of the crash, Air India continues to cancel several flights. Reuters Nearly two weeks after an Air India aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad, killing 274 people, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has yet to appoint a lead investigator, raising concerns over the pace and efficiency of the probe. While the investigation has technically begun, aviation safety experts say the absence of an official order designating an investigator-in-charge is a critical delay that could affect the timeline mandated by international standards, Economic Times reported. Under the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Annex 13, the appointment of an investigator-in-charge is required for the organisation, control, and conduct of an aircraft accident probe. The rules also stipulate that a preliminary report must be submitted within 30 days of the incident. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Appointment delayed, AAIB under scrutiny A formal order from the Director General of AAIB designating the lead investigator is still awaited, although Dhruv Rebbapragada, a former regional safety director for South Asia at Airbus and a former IndiGo pilot, has been identified to head the panel, according to sources familiar with the matter. Rebbapragada has previously led multiple crash investigations for AAIB but is reportedly unable to initiate this probe without the government notification that confers investigative authority, access to wreckage, and budgetary backing. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed a panel was formed and the investigation had started 'from Day 1' but did not offer a specific timeline for completion. Experts say the absence of a formal mandate raises concerns about the bureau's operational independence and readiness. AAIB, which draws many of its personnel from India's aviation regulator DGCA , does not have an independent budget and was long headed by civil service officers before its current chief, Indian Air Force officer GVG Yugandhar, took charge. A parliamentary standing committee earlier this year flagged the bureau's 'modest' funding, with only Rs 20 crore allocated for capital expenditure in FY26. While a separate committee under Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has been constituted, its role is limited to suggesting broader sectoral safety improvements and does not overlap with the crash investigation. Black boxes retrieved, data extraction underway Despite administrative delays, technical aspects of the investigation have progressed. Both the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were recovered from the crash site– one from a rooftop on June 13 and the other from the wreckage on June 16. The devices were secured under 24-hour police protection and CCTV surveillance before being flown to Delhi aboard Indian Air Force aircraft on June 24. The front black box reached the AAIB laboratory in Delhi with the Director General at 2:00 p.m., while the rear unit arrived later that day at 5:15 p.m. Technical teams from AAIB and the US-based National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as mandated under ICAO protocols since the aircraft was manufactured in the United States, began data extraction on the evening of June 24. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On June 25, the memory module of the CVR was successfully accessed and downloaded. Analysis of the black box data is ongoing, aimed at reconstructing the sequence of events that led to the crash of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and identifying any systemic failures. The investigation team comprises aviation medicine experts, air traffic controllers, and NTSB representatives, in line with international standards and India's Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017. Authorities say the probe remains compliant with international obligations and domestic laws. However, with no formal lead investigator appointed and the 30-day deadline for a preliminary report fast approaching, concerns persist about whether India can meet ICAO's time-bound investigation standards.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Air India plane crash: Lead investigator yet to be appointed; experts warn of systemic delays
Air India crash Nearly two weeks after the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad that killed 274 people, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is yet to officially appoint a lead investigator to head the probe, raising serious concerns over the efficiency and credibility of the investigation process. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) norms require that an investigator-in-charge be named immediately, with a preliminary report submitted within 30 days of an accident, as per Annex 13 guidelines. However, despite internal discussions, no formal government order has been issued so far to enable the appointed lead to commence work. Sources cited by ET said that Dhruv Rebbapragada, former South Asia regional safety director at Airbus and a seasoned investigator with prior experience at IndiGo and AAIB, has been finalised to lead the investigation. But in the absence of a formal notification from the director general of AAIB, Rebbapragada lacks the legal mandate, budgetary control, and powers to access vital materials like the flight data and cockpit voice recorders. 'The appointment has to come via an official order,' aviation safety expert Amit Singh said, as cited by ET, warning that without such authority, investigators are unable to compel cooperation or access the crash site freely. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu, as cited by ET, confirmed that AAIB was leading the probe and that a panel had been formed, but declined to specify when the lead investigator would be formally appointed. 'The investigation has started from Day 1. I do not want to put any pressure… Let them go through the whole process,' he said. The June 12 crash involved a London-bound Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner that went down moments after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft slammed into a medical hostel in the city's Meghaninagar area, killing 270, including 241 passengers. Only one person onboard survived. While the Ministry claimed a formal inquiry had begun on June 12, aviation experts remain sceptical, according to ET. In contrast, in 2020, after the Calicut Air India Express crash, AAIB had issued a formal order within days, appointing a five-member panel. Doubts have also resurfaced about the capability and independence of AAIB, which draws most of its staff from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The Bureau lacks an independent budget and has historically been overseen by IAS officers, with the current chief, GVG Yugandhar, being a former Indian Air Force officer. In March, a Parliamentary Standing Committee flagged the AAIB's inadequate resources, noting that only Rs 20 crore was allocated as capital expenditure for FY26. Although a separate committee under Union home secretary Govind Mohan has also been formed to provide broader safety recommendations, minister Naidu, as cited by ET, said that the AAIB remains the primary body for investigating the Ahmedabad crash. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Time of India
Two weeks after Air India crash, probe lead not named
New Delhi: Almost a fortnight after an Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad killing 274 people, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is yet to appoint a lead investigator to probe the accident. The delay, say experts, raises questions on the efficiency of the probe process which has to be necessarily completed in a time-bound manner. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules stipulate that the investigator-in-charge of an air crash will be responsible for the organisation, conduct and control of the probe. ICAO's Annex 13, which outlines guidelines for aircraft accident and incident investigations, also states that a preliminary report has to be submitted within 30 days of an accident. Official Order Awaited People aware of the developments said Dhruv Rebbapragada , former regional safety director for South Asia at Airbus, has been finalised to head the investigation panel. Prior to Airbus, Rebbapragada was chief of flight safety and a former pilot at budget airline IndiGo. He has also led multiple investigations for AAIB. However, Rebbapragada is unable to formally initiate the investigation into the deadly crash of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in the absence of a government order. Live Events Rebbapragada did not respond to calls and messages; neither did the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Civil aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha did not respond to multiple messages and an email either. 'The announcement of the investigation committee has to be through an official order by the Director General of AAIB. It is done so because the in-charge then will have a budget, will be granted the power to summon, has unhindered access to the crash site and wreckage, including the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. Otherwise, no one has any obligation to comply,' said Amit Singh, founder of Safety Matters Foundation, which works on aviation safety . AAIB has started a formal inquiry into the crash with a team from the agency commencing its investigation, the civil aviation ministry said on June 12. Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu reiterated on Tuesday that AAIB was leading the probe and a panel has been formed. He, however, declined to commit to any timeline for completing the process. 'The investigation has started from Day 1. I do not want to put any pressure… Let them go through the whole process,' the minister said. People involved in the process said however that the government is yet to issue a formal order for probing the crash. In 2020, when an Air India Express plane crashed in Calicut killing 21 and injuring many, the AAIB, through a formal order, appointed a five-member committee headed by a pilot. The government has also set up a separate committee under Union home secretary Govind Mohan, but Naidu in an earlier response to ET's query clarified that the committee's mandate was to provide a holistic view for improving the safety of the sector. Airline executives and aviation safety experts have been raising doubts about the capability of the AAIB, which primarily draws its officers from sector regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). AAIB does not have its own budget and for a long time was headed by an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), before the appointment of current head GVG Yugandhar, an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer. In March, a Parliamentary Standing Committee report flagged 'modest' funding of AAIB. For FY26, the capital allocated was ₹20 crore.
