New Delhi, March 9 (NationPress) - On Monday, Union Minister of Civil Aviation K. Ram Mohan Naidu informed the Rajya Sabha that the investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) regarding the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last June is proceeding swiftly, with the report expected to be released very soon.

The tragic incident involved the Air India Boeing 787 flight AI171, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2025, resulting in the loss of 260 lives, including 241 individuals who were on board.

Regarding the AI171 crash, Minister Naidu stated, "The investigation is advancing well, and we are providing all necessary resources to the AAIB, which is the primary agency handling the inquiry." He emphasized that the report should be ready by the end of this year.

In response to a supplementary question during the Question Hour in the Upper House, he also remarked that the Central Government is actively working to ensure flight operations to West Asia to facilitate the return of Indian citizens stranded due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.

On the situation in West Asia and the safety of flight operations, Minister Naidu mentioned that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has promptly engaged with airlines and issued relevant circulars.

He added that DGCA officials have conducted several meetings with airlines to confirm that flights will only operate when there is complete safety for aircraft flying to airports in West Asia.

Travel advisories have also been disseminated to passengers to prevent any confusion, he noted.

While acknowledging that airlines have been diligently assessing their schedules amid the crisis in West Asia, the Union Minister reported that around 90,000 individuals have been able to return to India in the past week.

"We anticipate improvements in the situation soon, allowing for increased travel through civil aviation," he stated.

Updating the Upper House on developments planned for the civil aviation sector, the Minister indicated that 200 additional airports are projected to be operational in the next 20 years.

"I believe, as does the Prime Minister, that prioritizing civil aviation operations is essential for achieving the vision of a developed country. Over the past 12 years, we've witnessed significant growth in this sector," Minister Naidu expressed.

He also highlighted the increasing air traffic in the nation, noting that each day, approximately 500,000 passengers travel domestically, while between 100,000 to 200,000 travel internationally.

"Our future plans include establishing 50 new airports in the next five years, with an additional 200 airports over the next two decades, bringing the total number of airports to 350," he concluded.