Latest news with #CivilAviation
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Business Standard
8 hours ago
- Business Standard
Vietnam-bound Air India flight returns to Delhi as 'precautionary measure'
'Air India flight AI388 to Ho Chi Minh City returned to Delhi as a precaution. All passengers are safe and will depart on an alternate aircraft with a fresh crew at 1800 hrs today,' the airline said ANI An Air India flight (AI388) from Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, returned to the national capital on Thursday evening as a precautionary measure shortly after takeoff. Air India said that the aircraft landed safely and all passengers were disembarked without incident. "Air India flight AI388 from Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City has air returned to Delhi as a precautionary measure. The flight landed safely back in Delhi and all passengers have been disembarked and served refreshments while an alternative aircraft with fresh crew has been arranged to fly the passengers to Ho Chi Minh City at 1800 hrs today," the airline said in a statement. "The inconvenience caused to passengers is sincerely regretted. At Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains top priority," it added. Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu convened a detailed video conference with all Airport Directors across the country to review ground-level preparedness and passenger support mechanisms in the light of rescheduling of flights happening due to multiple reasons like post-accident checks, weather changes, closing of certain airspaces due to geopolitical tensions, etc. During the meeting several directives were issued including close liaison with airlines was emphasized to ensure passenger issues are addressed swiftly and on the spot. Availability of food, drinking water, and adequate seating facilities at terminals must be ensured, particularly during flight delays or congestion. Sufficient personnel must be deployed at key touchpoints to manage passenger grievances proactively, Civil Aviation Ministry said in a release on Thursday. Airport Directors were requested to extend all possible assistance to airlines facing operational disruptions, including gate reassignments and logistical support. To maintain a safe and secure airport environment, Airport Directors were directed to reinforce wildlife hazard management, including the deterrence of birds and stray animals, it added. The Minister of Civil Aviation held a high-level meeting with the Chairman & Managing Director of Air India and the discussions focused on three critical aspects like maintaining operational continuity, supporting transparent and accountable communication with the public and passengers' safety and convenience, release said. The meeting noted that due to the evolving situation in the Middle East, enhanced safety checks, and a ban on night flying in Europe, Air India is facing reduced aircraft availability, release stated. "As a result, they will temporarily scale down operations, restructure flights, and announce changes through the media. Affected passengers will be rebooked or offered full refunds. Air India was urged to strengthen their ground-level coordination at airports, improve communication with passengers regarding cancellations/delays, and ensure that customer service teams are sensitised and equipped to handle increased passenger concerns with empathy and clarity," Civil Aviation Ministry said. As per an official release, meetings were also held with the senior managements of Spice Jet, Indigo and Akasa on 18th and 19th June. The Minister reviewed the fleet performance, safety oversight, passengers experience & convenience and the airline communication strategy. It was also decided that the practice of periodical review with the airlines on operational matters will be institutionalised for better monitoring and coordination. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has commenced a formal inquiry into the Air India flight crash near Ahmedabad, an official release said. A multi-disciplinary team from AAIB has commenced an investigation on June 12, 2025. The investigation has been ordered by DG, AAIB. NTSB and OEM teams have arrived to assist AAIB as per ICAO protocols. A combined unit of the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) has been recovered from the crash site on 13 June 2025 and another set was found on 16 June. This model of aircraft has two Blackbox sets. The AAIB investigation is progressing steadily with all necessary support from local authorities and agencies. Key recovery work, including site documentation and evidence collection, has been completed, and further analysis is now underway. The Ministry remains committed to full transparency relating to the ongoing investigation and will follow all mandated protocols and norms, in the larger interest of the highest standards of Passenger Safety and convenience. The Minister emphasised the importance of working together as a cohesive and responsive team to uphold passenger trust and bring operational stability, which has been the cornerstone of Indian aviation over the years. It has been reported in certain media outlets that the CVR/DFDR from the ill-fated AI171 flight is being sent abroad for retrieval and analysis. The decision regarding the location for decoding the flight recorders will be taken by the AAIB after due assessment of all technical, safety, and security considerations, ministry further added. The Ministry of Civil Aviation also urged all stakeholders to refrain from speculation on such sensitive matters and to allow the investigative process to proceed with the seriousness and professionalism it warrants.
NDTV
10 hours ago
- NDTV
Air India Crash: 215 DNA Matches Found, 198 Bodies Handed Over To Families
Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Rakesh Joshi on Thursday said that 215 DNA samples have been matched, and the mortal remains of 198 deceased in the Air India AI-171 plane crash have been handed over to their respective families. Speaking to reporters, Mr Joshi said, "215 DNA samples have been matched, of which the mortal remains of 198 deceased have been handed over to their the 198 deceased, 149 are Indian nationals, seven Portuguese, 32 British and one Canadian." He added that the mortal remains of 15 victims were dispatched by air and 183 by road via ambulances. Earlier in the day, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik said that 222 victims of the AI-171 plane crash have been identified so far, including 214 based on DNA samples and eight without DNA matching. He said their remains have been handed over to their families. "Police also do their part of the investigation, but other agencies and the experts do the technical part, like analysing the black box, and the investigation is underway... 222 people have been identified so far, 214 based on DNA samples and eight were identified without DNA and their bodies have been handed over to their families," Mr Malik told reporters. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu held a high-level video conference with all Airport Directors across the country to review ground-level preparedness and passenger support mechanisms in the light of rescheduling of flights happening due to multiple reasons like post-accident checks, weather changes, closing of certain airspaces due to geopolitical tensions, etc. According to a release from the Civil Aviation Ministry, several directives were issued during the meeting, including Close liaison with airlines, which was emphasised to ensure passenger issues are addressed swiftly and on the spot. Availability of food, drinking water, and adequate seating facilities at terminals must be ensured, particularly during flight delays or congestion. Sufficient personnel must be deployed at key touchpoints to manage passenger grievances proactively. On June 12, the London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat's Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
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Business Standard
10 hours ago
- Business Standard
Air India crash: 215 DNA matches found, 198 bodies handed over to families
Ahmedabad Civil Hospital Superintendent Rakesh Joshi on Thursday said that 215 DNA samples have been matched, and the mortal remains of 198 deceased in the Air India AI-171 plane crash have been handed over to their respective families. Speaking to reporters, Joshi said, "215 DNA samples have been matched, of which the mortal remains of 198 deceased have been handed over to their the 198 deceased, 149 are Indian nationals, seven Portuguese, 32 British and one Canadian." He added that the mortal remains of 15 victims were dispatched by air and 183 by road via ambulances. Earlier in the day, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik said that 222 victims of the AI-171 plane crash have been identified so far, including 214 based on DNA samples and eight without DNA matching. He said their remains have been handed over to their families. "Police also do their part of the investigation, but other agencies and the experts do the technical part, like analysing the black box, and the investigation is underway... 222 people have been identified so far, 214 based on DNA samples and eight were identified without DNA and their bodies have been handed over to their families," Malik told reporters. Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu held a high-level video conference with all Airport Directors across the country to review ground-level preparedness and passenger support mechanisms in the light of rescheduling of flights happening due to multiple reasons like post-accident checks, weather changes, closing of certain airspaces due to geopolitical tensions, etc. According to a release from the Civil Aviation Ministry, several directives were issued during the meeting, including Close liaison with airlines, which was emphasised to ensure passenger issues are addressed swiftly and on the spot. Availability of food, drinking water, and adequate seating facilities at terminals must be ensured, particularly during flight delays or congestion. Sufficient personnel must be deployed at key touchpoints to manage passenger grievances proactively. On June 12, the London-bound Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed into a hostel complex of BJ Medical College in the Meghani Nagar area of Gujarat's Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The tragedy claimed 241 lives out of 242 onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Union Minister Jual Oram unhappy over Air India flight delay
ROURKELA: Union Tribal Affairs Minister and Sundargarh MP Jual Oram on Wednesday expressed displeasure at his detention in New Delhi airport for hours due to delay in departure of Bhubaneswar-bound Air India (AI) flight no 2489. On reaching Bhubaneswar, Jual said the AI flight was cancelled on Tuesday after seven hours of his detention at the airport, including over three hours inside the aircraft. Subsequently, he returned to his Delhi residence. He successfully took another flight and reached Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Oram said initially, bad weather was cited as the reason for delay in departure of the flight as passengers were kept waiting at the airport. After they boarded the plane, the delay was attributed to technical snag. The plane was taken to the parking bay where they were made to sit inside the flight for over three hours. Jual said it was complete mishandling by the AI. Despite the inordinate delay, there was no arrangement for food and water for passengers as he and others felt immensely harassed. He talked to the Civil Aviation secretary and asked him to conduct a probe into the 'mishandling' by AI authorities and take appropriate action. The secretary assured to look into the issue. The minister said he showed his displeasure at the harassment and miseries of the passengers which he personally experienced. The issue was also brought to the notice of Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Sources close to Jual informed that after cancellation of the flight, the minister returned to his Delhi residence at around 12 am. According to news reports, other passengers appreciated Jual for raising the issue with the Civil Aviation Ministry and highlighting their plight.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Air India cancels at least EIGHT international Boeing Dreamliner flights just days after crash that killed 270 people
Air India has axed eight planned plane journeys following the crash that killed 270 people. The firm's Gatwick-bound plane carrying 242 passengers, including 53 British nationals, crashed just moments after take-off from Ahmedabad Airport in the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner careened back down to earth in the densely populated Meghani area of the city just minutes after leaving the runway around 1.40pm local time (8.10am BST) last Thursday. Now planes earmarked to travel for Air India between Paris, Vienna and Dubai have been called off - and authorities have also begun inspecting Air India's entire fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said. Factors involved include unavailability of aircraft, technical problems, airspace restrictions and extended safety checks, the Guardian reported. Meanwhile, another Air India flight on the same route as the plane that crashed last week has been cancelled because of 'precautionary checks', the airline said. Flight AI159 was planned to depart Ahmedabad, India, at 1.10pm local time on Tuesday, and arrive at London Gatwick airport at 6.25pm BST. Air India's website shows the flight was initially delayed by one hour and 50 minutes but was later cancelled. A flight from Gatwick to Amritsar, India, set to depart at 8pm BST was also axed. The cancelled flights were scheduled to be operated by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which is the same type of aircraft that crashed shortly after take-off at Ahmedabad last Thursday. An Air India spokesperson said: 'Flight AI 159 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick has been cancelled today due to the unavailability of the aircraft,. That was aid to be resulting from airspace restrictions and additional precautionary checks, leading to longer than usual turnaround of aircraft, and not due to any technical snag as claimed. 'We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers and have made alternative arrangements to fly them to their destination.' The airline said affected passengers are being offered hotel accommodation and full refunds or rescheduling. Last week's crash was one of the deadliest plane accidents in terms of the number of British nationals killed. The Air India aircraft struck a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board, 52 of whom were British. The sole surviving passenger was UK national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh. Among the victims were Akeel Nanawaba, Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter Sarah, 4, Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, Javed Ali Syed, his wife and two children, Raxa Modha, her grandson Rudra and her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar, and Ajaykumar Ramesh, the brother of the tragedy's only survivor. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh (pictured), who was seated in 11A, is British and told the Hindustan Times he had lived in London for 20 years. His brother Ajaykumar accompanied him on the flight and was sat on the other side of the aisle in seat 11J, but he sadly perished in the fireball explosion. Among the other victims were Akeel Nanawaba, 36, his wife Hannaa Vorajee, 30, and their daughter Sarah, four, who had been flying home from a five-day family celebration when the Dreamliner crashed. The successful young couple ran a global recruitment agency with offices in Ahmedabad and Gloucester. Their shocked business partner Shoyeb Khan Nagori told MailOnline: 'I had dinner with them last night. They were a lovely family and Akeel and his wife were extremely successful people.' Mr Nagori said he was too upset to find the words to describe their daughter Sarah who had spent time with her grandfather during the brief visit. He said: 'They were here to celebrate a family festival and to spend some time with Akeel's father. 'Akeel was a really good man, I'm in shock, we were all having dinner together the night before.' Mr Nagori was with hundreds of other relatives of crash victims waiting for updates at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad. He founded recruitment company Iceberg Outsourcing Services with Mr Nanbawa, who was the managing director. Javed Ali Syed, a hotel manager at the Best Western Kensington Olympia Hotel and his wife Mariam were also passengers on the fallen Air India Flight 171 this morning/ A video posted to social media appeared to show the plane descending in a controlled manner with a high nose angle and landing gear deployed/ The aircraft momentarily disappeared from view behind trees and buildings. Recently widowed Raxa Modha, 55, her grandson two-year-old Rudra, and her daughter-in-law Yasha Kamdar are all believed to have been onboard the ill-fated airliner. Mrs Modha had been in India for some time fulfilling the dying wish of her ill husband Kishor who had wanted to live out his last days in his homeland. Following his recent passing, the mother-of-three was returning with her family to their home in Northamptonshire when disaster struck this morning. In a twist of fate, Kishan Modha – the toddler's father and Raxa's son – had also been in India but was not on the flight as he was due to catch another tomorrow. Speaking to MailOnline, a family friend said: 'It's incredibly sad, the whole family is already grieving Kishor's death. Air hostess Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam was named by local media as being on board the ill-fated Flight 171/ Neighbours at her family's detached home in Wellingborough said Mrs Modha is a 'lovely lady'. They said she had been in India for an extended period to support her husband who was battling an illness. The mayor for Wellingborough, Raj Mishra offered his condolences to the family on a post on Facebook adding it was devastating for the local community. 'I extend my deepest condolences to their families, friends, and all those affected by this heartbreaking event,' he added. Aviation experts say that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner may have suddenly lost power 'at the most critical phase of flight' after takeoff. The possible causes are believed to include a rapid change in wind or a bird strike leading to a double engine stall. Officials from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are now at the scene to carry out an analysis of the wreckage and retrieve the stricken jet's black box. Videos shows the aircraft rapidly losing altitude - with its nose up - before it hit a building and erupted in a violent explosion. At first, the plane appears to be descending in a controlled manner with a high nose angle and landing gear deployed. It then briefly disappears from view behind trees and buildings before a massive fireball suddenly erupts on the horizon. A huge trail of smoke can subsequently be seen billowing from the crash site. Other video clips show a huge cloud of black smoke filling the sky as distressed onlookers gather in the streets of the Indian city as chaos unfolds. Footage also showed chunks of the plane's fuselage and tail protruding from a demolished building. Firefighters at the scene doused the smouldering piles of debris with their hoses as photos and videos taken by horrified residents in Meghani showed a huge plume of thick black smoke emanating from the crash site. The flight reportedly reached an altitude of just 625 feet before it began to descend, according to flight tracking service Flightradar 24,. The organisation said the plane's transponder signal dropped just seconds after it left the runway. Flightradar 24 added: ''We received the last signal from the aircraft at 08:08:51 UTC, just seconds after take off.' India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said the plane sent a mayday call moments before the crash. Air India's chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran shared a statement that read: 'With profound sorrow I confirm that Air India Flight 171 operating Ahmedabad London Gatwick was involved in a tragic accident yesterday. 'It is very disappointing that it is a Dreamliner as it is a state-of-the-art Boeing. We cannot rule out security issues. But this is all speculation on my part.' 'Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of all those affected by this devastating event 'At this moment, our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families. 'We are doing everything in our power to assist the emergency response teams at the site and to provide all necessary support and care to those impacted.'
