Will Boeing and Air India Executives Face Scrutiny Over Ahmedabad Crash?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Parliamentary Committee on Transport to address air safety issues.
- Boeing and Air India executives are being summoned for discussions.
- Focus on aviation sector shortcomings and aircraft maintenance.
- Recent helicopter accidents on Char Dham route will also be reviewed.
- The DGCA has taken punitive action against Air India officials.
New Delhi, June 27 (NationPress) The Parliamentary Committee on Transport has summoned Boeing executives, representatives from Air India, the Civil Aviation Secretary, and DGCA officials to discuss crucial air safety matters concerning the unfortunate Boeing Dreamliner crash that occurred mere seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport. The meeting is anticipated to take place in the first week of July.
Sources indicate that there are multiple shortcomings in the aviation sector, particularly regarding aircraft maintenance, which raises significant concerns. The committee will also examine the recent surge in helicopter accidents occurring on the Char Dham pilgrimage route.
Topics of discussion will encompass the role of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), aircraft maintenance schedules, and the psychological well-being of pilots, as reported by sources.
It is expected that the committee’s findings will be presented in the upcoming session of Parliament.
Before this meeting, the committee plans to conduct a consultation in Gangtok to evaluate air and road connectivity to the northeastern states, focusing on promoting tourism. Committee members are likely to travel on an Air India flight to gain direct insights into the airline's operations.
Following the Boeing crash, the DGCA mandated the immediate removal of three senior Air India officials, including a divisional vice president, from all responsibilities associated with flight crew scheduling and rostering as the first punitive measure.
The Tata Group-owned airline has also been instructed to commence internal disciplinary actions against these officials without delay. Non-compliance could lead to severe repercussions, including the potential loss of the airline's operating license.
Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has started examining the black box data retrieved from the crash site of Air India Flight AI171.
According to an official statement, "The black boxes were transported from Ahmedabad to Delhi by an IAF aircraft under tight security on June 24, 2025. The front black box arrived at the AAIB lab in Delhi with the Director General (DG) of AAIB at 1400 hrs on June 24, 2025," an official statement revealed on Thursday.
"On the evening of June 24, 2025, the team led by the DG of AAIB, along with technical members from AAIB and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), commenced the data extraction process. The Crash Protection Module (CPM) from the front black box was successfully recovered, and on June 25, 2025, the memory module was accessed and its data downloaded at the AAIB lab," the statement added.