A year after the Air India Flight 171 crash, 30 victims’ families have written a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu expressing concern over the investigation. The families have made five demands, including transparency in the investigation, regular updates and the inclusion of an expert pilot.
New Delhi [भारत]July 12 (ANI): More than a year after the tragic Air India Flight 171 crash that claimed 260 lives, nearly 30 families who lost their loved ones have sent a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Representing the deceased, the families have put forward five demands, raising concerns over the alleged lack of communication and impartiality of the ongoing investigation.
Families put forward 5 major demands regarding investigation
The letter urges the ministry to ensure that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) conducts independent simulator validation tests before issuing the final report, and that the AAIB give regular updates to families every 15 or 30 days. Additionally, there is a demand that a clear timeline be announced for the final report and it be released as soon as possible. Additionally, an experienced commercial pilot with experience in Boeing 787 and aircraft crash investigations should be included in the investigation process, and ensure that families are not pressured to sign any releases that take away their rights against other responsible parties.
One of the letters said, “I humbly request you to please intervene to ensure that the investigation into this tragic accident is fair, transparent and completed as soon as possible. Currently, the families are not getting proper updates about the investigation. We request that the AAIB create a proper communication channel with the families and provide updates every 15 or 30 days. The AAIB should also organize a meeting or conference where the family members can ask questions and get clear answers.”
The letters highlighted that the Federation of Indian Pilots has requested independent full flight simulator validation tests, and that these tests are important as they will help verify the sequence of events outlined in the initial report. “We have already lost our loved ones. All we want is the truth, regular dialogue, an impartial investigation and protection of our legal rights,” the letter said.
Investigation in final stages: Ministry and AAIB
Air India’s AI-171 flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12 last year, killing 260 people, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members and 19 people on the ground.
Earlier in June, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu had said that the investigation into the Air India AI-171 crash is in its final stages, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to submit its final report soon, strictly following the international investigation protocol.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) probing the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, in Ahmedabad said it has made significant progress in the investigation and analysis of aircraft systems, flight recorder data and engine-related components. The bureau said the evidence collected and results of the investigation are being analyzed in a comprehensive and integrated manner. (ANI)
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