Latest news with #AAIB
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Business Standard
4 hours ago
- General
- Business Standard
Air India CEO denies funeral absence claims, reaffirms Tata support
Campbell Wilson affirms management attended all AI171 crew funerals, says families are now Tata families, and outlines safety checks and scaled operations post-crash Deepak Patel New Delhi Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson on Friday said senior executives of the airline were present at the funeral of every flight crew member who perished in the June 12 AI171 crash, dismissing 'social media commentary' that alleged otherwise. 'We have had senior representation at each and every one,' Wilson wrote in a message to employees, adding that the management chose to keep a low profile 'as a matter of respect', to avoid disrupting services 'so important for families and loved ones'. Wilson also said the airline is supporting the families of the deceased crew members as it would those of its own staff. 'These families are now Tata families,' he said, echoing a statement by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. About 500 employees from Air India and 17 other Tata Group companies are in Ahmedabad assisting families of passengers, crew and residents affected by the tragedy. 'We will continue supporting those affected long after the work in Ahmedabad is done,' Wilson said. On the ongoing investigation into the crash of flight AI171 — which killed 241 people, including 34 on the ground — Wilson said the airline is fully cooperating with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). 'What happened? There are many theories but, as the accident is now under official investigation by the AAIB, it is not appropriate for us to comment or speculate. We are providing all information requested by the AAIB and are cooperating completely. It is vital that the facts, whatever they may be, are known so that we and the industry at large can learn from them,' he said. 'If there is any discovery during the investigation that suggests airlines or suppliers need to change something urgently, we have confidence that such information would be shared quickly. For our part, we will be transparent with what is shared with us,' he noted. The AI171 flight had 242 people — 10 cabin crew members, two pilots and 230 passengers — on board. All but one passenger died in the crash. Wilson, in his message, reassured staff that Air India's Boeing 787 fleet has passed the additional checks ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). 'We have also, as a matter of abundant caution, voluntarily decided to continue additional pre-flight checks... Where there is any doubt, we will not release aircraft — of any type — for service,' he noted. He explained that these checks, along with airspace restrictions over the Middle East and Pakistan, have led to temporary flight reductions. 'We will progressively restore (services) when the time is right,' he said. Air India on Thursday night announced the suspension of its Delhi–Nairobi, Amritsar–London (Gatwick), and Goa (Mopa)–London (Gatwick) services, and reduction of frequencies on many other international routes, as part of a temporary scaling down of operations on its long-haul network. The airline cited voluntary enhanced safety inspections and extended flight durations due to airspace closures in the Middle East as the reasons for the move, which will take effect from June 21 and continue at least until July 15. Despite the setback, Wilson on Friday maintained that Air India's long-term ambitions remain intact. 'Our aim in every respect — be it safety, quality, service, scale, reach, professionalism or any other dimension — remains the same, if not higher than before,' he said, adding that the airline continues to have the 'full support of both shareholders'. Tata Group and Singapore Airlines hold 74.9 per cent and 25.1 per cent shares in Air India. Wilson ended the note by urging employees to stay focused on safety and professionalism. 'Let us continue to perform our roles as professionally as we possibly can, with complete focus on safety — and, as always, with care for our customers and each other,' he wrote.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Uttarakhand sets up committee to prepare SOP for safe operation of choppers
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government has set up a committee to prepare standard operating procedures (SOP) for the operation of helicopter service in the state. The committee, which has been constituted against the backdrop of 13 deaths in five incidents involving choppers over the last six weeks, will be headed by state home secretary Shailesh Bagauli. It will submit its report by August 15. Bagauli said the committee will analyse the causes of helicopter accidents and prepare a comprehensive report outlining the necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. It will also come up with recommendations regarding manpower, equipment, and administrative reforms for Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) and review the existing SOPs formulated by the state's aviation authority. The panel is expected to update the SOP and give suggestions to strengthen the weather information and communication system. The committee will also recommend measures to enhance the existing air traffic management system in the state. A Bell 407 helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation, crashed en route to Guptkashi from the Kedarnath shrine on June 15 amid poor visibility in the region. It was the fifth helicopter accident since the Char Dham Yatra began on April 30 this year. The crash highlighted safety concerns over helicopter operations serving the Char Dham pilgrimage route, which includes four sacred Hindu temples. The routes see tens of thousands of pilgrims annually, many using helicopters to navigate the treacherous mountain terrain. According to data released by the state government, 49,247 devotees have used heli services Char Dham yatra this year. Eight companies are operating from nine helipads this season. The civil aviation ministry said preliminary findings suggest 'controlled flight into terrain'. Operations for Aryan Aviation were suspended immediately and an investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) was launched. The other members of the committee are the state's civil aviation secretary, disaster management secretary, chief executive officer of UCADA, executive director, Airspace Management, Government of India, executive Director, Air Traffic Management, Government of India, an official nominated by the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation, an official nominated by AAIB, an official nominated by India Meteorological Department (IMD), and one member each from among operators/pilots nominated by DGCA and UCADA.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘No aircraft will fly if in doubt': Air India CEO days after Ahmedabad crash
Air India has voluntarily decided to continue additional pre-flight checks on all its wide-body fleet for the time being as a matter of precaution, the airline's chief executive officer and managing director, Campbell Wilson, has said. He underlined that they would not release aircraft of any type for service if there was any doubt. In an email to the employees days after the June 12 Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, Wilson said the additional pre-flight checks are among the reasons for reduced flights. 'The additional pre-flight checks we are doing reduces the number of hours aircraft are available to operate, which – also considering the extra flight time arising from new airspace closures in the Middle East, on top of the Pakistan closure - is why we have... [decided] to reduce the amount of flying over the coming weeks. We will progressively restore when the time is right.' The London-bound Air India flight with 242 people aboard began losing altitude seconds after take-off and crashed in a densely populated residential area near Ahmedabad airport. A 40-year-old passenger was the sole survivor while approximately 30 people died on the ground. It was the worst civil aviation disaster in over a decade globally, and in India in over 30 years. Wilson said the airline has completed the additional precautionary checks on the Boeing 787 fleet, as per the regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)'s request, and declared that they meet required standards. 'We have also, as a matter of abundant precaution, voluntarily decided to continue additional pre-flight checks for the time being. Where there is any doubt, we will not release aircraft of any type for service,' said the email, a copy of which HT has seen. He added that the final report can take many months, though the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) may choose to issue interim updates or reports. 'If there is any discovery during the investigation that suggests the airline or suppliers need to change something urgently, we have confidence that such information would be shared quickly. For our part, we will be transparent with what is shared with us.' Wilson said there are many theories about the crash and underlined that it is inappropriate to comment or speculate as the accident is now under the AAIB investigation. 'We are providing all information requested by the AAIB and are cooperating completely. It is vital that the facts, whatever they may be, are known so that we and the industry at large can learn from them.' Wilson underlined the need for learning from the crash so that the airline is stronger in the future. '...our aim in every respect, be it safety, quality, service, scale, reach, professionalism or any other dimension, remains the same if not higher than before.' He said that they continue to mourn for the lives lost in the tragedy and to support those who have been affected. Wilson added that around 500 colleagues from Air India and 17 other Tata companies were in Ahmedabad to help the families of passengers, crew, and those killed on the ground. '...progress is being made, together with the authorities, on reconciling families with their loved ones, and as of this morning, more than 200 have received some degree of solace and closure,' he wrote. 'We will continue supporting those affected long after the work in Ahmedabad is done, as our Chairman has said, these families are now Tata families.' Wilson cited social media commentary on a perceived lack of visibility of Air India at the funeral services for their colleagues and said they have had senior representation at each one. 'We are, however, taking care that our presence does not cause disruption at a time so important for families and loved ones, as a matter of respect.' Wilson said the airline is supporting the staff who served in Ahmedabad upon their return to base, with a mandatory break and counselling. 'The counselling services, which are confidential and provided by professionals, continue to be available to everyone...I encourage you to avail yourself of it.'
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Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Weeks before Air India crash, Parliament panel flagged funding shortfall
A report tabled by the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tourism, Transport and Culture on March 25 had flagged 'a distinct imbalance in the allocation of funds across key aviation bodies'. The crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on June 12 has now thrust those warnings back into the public eye. In the 2025–26 Budget Estimate, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was allocated ₹30 crore — nearly half of the ₹65 crore total budget set aside for aviation regulatory and safety bodies. In contrast, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), responsible for probing air crashes, received ₹20 crore, while the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which oversees airport security, was allotted only ₹15 crore. The parliamentary panel expressed concern over this disproportionate distribution. It recommended a reassessment of the DGCA's large share to ensure greater efficiency and accountability, especially as the AAIB and BCAS are critical to handling emergencies and securing the country's expanding aviation infrastructure. Is India's airport growth outpacing its aviation safety budget? Since 2014, India's operational airports have doubled from 74 to 147, with a target of 220 by 2025–26. The panel cautioned that expanding services to Tier-II and Tier-III cities under the Udan scheme must be matched by proportional increases in funding for security and accident investigation. 'It is imperative to assess whether these funds are adequate to strengthen security infrastructure and enhance investigative capabilities. As aviation expands to Tier-II and Tier-III cities under the modified Udan scheme, security infrastructure and capabilities must be extended proportionally,' the report stated. How is understaffing affecting DGCA, BCAS, and AAI performance? The report also highlighted chronic vacancies across key aviation agencies: 53 per cent of sanctioned posts lie vacant in the DGCA, 35 per cent in BCAS, and 17 per cent in the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Committee members warned that understaffing could undermine safety reforms, even if budgets were increased. 'The committee is deeply concerned that chronic understaffing in these institutions could undermine safety, security, and service delivery standards, particularly as air traffic volumes continue to rise. The committee urges the Ministry of Civil Aviation to expedite the recruitment process to fill vacancies across DGCA, BCAS, and AAI, ensuring that regulatory oversight, security enforcement, and airport operations are not compromised,' the report said. What happened during the Air India AI-171 crash in Ahmedabad? Flight AI-171, a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed into the campus of BJ Medical College minutes after take-off, killing 241 of the 242 passengers and crew, as well as 24 people on the ground. Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders; a preliminary report from the AAIB is awaited. Tata Group, owner of Air India, has announced ₹1 crore compensation for each victim's family. Will Parliament boost aviation safety budgets after the Air India crash? Parliamentarians are expected to revisit the committee's recommendations during the upcoming monsoon session. Whether the tragic lessons from Ahmedabad will translate into bigger budgets and faster hiring for AAIB and BCAS will be watched closely by India's aviation industry — now the world's third-largest.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
India Decides Whether to Send Air India Flight Recorders Abroad for Analysis
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is yet to determine whether the flight data and cockpit voice recorders from last week's tragic Air India crash, will be sent overseas for analysis.
