Air India Defends Boeing 787 Dreamliner as Safe Aircraft in Parliament's PAC After Ahmedabad Plane Crash. The accident resulted in the death of 260 people. The airline is awaiting the investigation report.
Plane Crash: Following the accident of Air India flight AI-171, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London on June 12th, a detailed discussion took place on this serious incident during a meeting of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC). During the meeting, Air India explicitly defended the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, stating it to be one of the safest aircraft in the world. The airline mentioned that the accident was exceptional and unfortunate, and that investigation procedures were underway.
What Happened on June 12th
On June 12th, Air India flight AI-171, taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad for London, crashed onto the hostel of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area shortly after takeoff. The accident resulted in the deaths of all 241 passengers and 19 crew members, totaling 260 fatalities. Nineteen medical students present in the hostel at the time of the crash were also killed.
Air India's Position in the PAC Meeting
The PAC meeting, which was originally convened to discuss airport charge increases, became focused on safety issues due to the accident. In the meeting, Air India's CEO, Wilson Campbell, stated that the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is used by over 1,000 airlines worldwide and has an excellent safety record. The airline also expressed its deep concern over the accident and stated that it was awaiting the official investigation report.
Who Attended the Meeting
Besides Air India, representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), DGCA, Airport Authority of India (AAI), AERA, BCAS, and major airlines like IndiGo and Akasa Air participated in the meeting. Discussions revolved around the review of all safety protocols and aircraft operational standards.
Concerns and Demands of the Members of Parliament
According to sources, PAC members raised several questions regarding aircraft safety. They demanded an immediate audit by BCAS and inquired about the criteria used to constitute the accident investigation committee. The Members of Parliament also asked whether foreign aviation experts were included in the investigation. Furthermore, concerns were raised about the sudden increase in fares after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which was termed a failure of the regulatory authority.
Expediting the Investigation, the Crucial Role of the Black Box
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the plane crash. The investigating agency has submitted its preliminary report to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. According to sources, AAIB is working in collaboration with the United States' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The black box recovered from the crash site is proving to be a crucial link in the investigation.
On June 13th, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and on June 16th, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) were safely recovered from the site. On June 24th, both black boxes were brought from Ahmedabad to Delhi by an Indian Air Force aircraft. Based on these recordings, efforts are being made to understand what technical or human errors occurred in the aircraft just before the accident.
Why Trust in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was Expressed
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is considered among the world's most advanced and safest aircraft. It uses modern composite materials, making it lighter and reducing fuel consumption. The probability of system failures is also very low. Air India informed the PAC that the aircraft adheres to international aviation safety standards and is widely used by airlines worldwide.
