Latest news with #CivilAviationMinistry
BBC News
5 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Air India crash: India to decide on overseas analysis of flight recorders
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is yet to decide whether flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the Air India flight that crashed last Thursday will be sent overseas for decoding and least 270 people, most of them passengers, were killed when the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed less than a minute after taking off from Ahmedabad airport in western media outlets reported that the black boxes are being sent abroad, but the ministry of civil aviation clarified that no final decision has been ministry said the AAIB will determine the location for analysis after a "due assessment of technical, safety, and security factors". Investigators have recovered both sets of Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFRs) - the "black boxes" - from the Boeing 787 crash site. These combined units, which record flight data and cockpit audio, were found on 13 and 16 June. The aircraft model carries two such sets to aid in thorough recorders track with high precision the position of gear and flap levers, thrust settings, engine performance, fuel flow and even fire handle data in the plane's "black boxes" can be used to reconstruct the flight's final moments and determine the cause of the some media outlets reported that the recorders had been badly damaged in the fire that engulfed the plane after the crash, making it difficult to extract the data in India and that the government was planning to send the recorders to the Kishore Chinta, a former accident investigator with the AAIB, told the BBC one set of recorders could be also sent to the US "to compare the data downloaded in India with that provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)". He said although the new AAIB lab in Delhi was inaugurated in April, "it's unclear whether it is fully operational for EAFR data downloads".Meanwhile, Air India's chairman has said that one of the engines of the Air India plane that crashed last week was new, while the other was not due for servicing until an interview with Times Now news channel, N Chandrasekaran said that both engines of the aircraft had "clean" the airline said that inspections have been completed on 26 of its 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft, all of which have been "cleared for service".India's aviation regulator had ordered additional safety checks on Air India's Boeing 787 fleet after the deadly crash as a "preventive measure".On Thursday, the airline announced that its flights will be reduced on 16 international routes and suspended on three overseas destinations between 21 June and 15 July."The reductions arise from the decision to voluntarily undertake enhanced pre-flight safety checks, as well as accommodate additional flight durations arising from airspace closures in the Middle East," the airline said in a announcement came a day after the carrier said it would temporarily reduce flights operated with wide-body planes by 15%.
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.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Aviation Min reviews safety measures, passenger facilitation, airline performance
Mumbai, The Civil Aviation Ministry on Thursday conducted a comprehensive review of safety measures, passenger services, and airline performance in the wake of recent flight rescheduling due to multiple factors, such as post-accident checks and closing of certain airspaces amid geopolitical tension, an official release said. The ministry also said it 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 meeting came in the backdrop of the London-bound Air India flight AI171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12. All but one on board the plane died, along with 29 on the ground when the aircraft smashed into a medical complex in the Meghaninagar area of the city shortly after its take-off. At the meeting, conducted virtually to review ground-level preparedness and passenger support mechanisms with all airport directors and chaired by Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, a close liaison with airlines was emphasised to ensure passenger issues are addressed swiftly, the release said. Naidu also held a high-level meeting with the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India, it said. At the comprehensive review meeting, it was also directed that availability of food, drinking water, and adequate seating facilities at terminals must be ensured, particularly during flight delays or congestion and that sufficient personnel must be deployed at key touch points to manage passenger grievances proactively, it added. The airport directors were requested to extend all possible assistance to airlines facing operational disruptions, including gate reassignments and logistical support, it said, adding that to maintain a safe and secure airport environment, they were directed to reinforce wildlife hazard management, including the deterrence of birds and stray animals. During the meeting, it was 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. As a result, Air India will temporarily scale down operations, restructure flights, and announce changes through the media, it said. Affected passengers will be rebooked or offered full refunds, while 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, the release said. The government also said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has commenced a formal inquiry into the Air India flight crash near Ahmedabad. The AAIB investigation is progressing steadily with all necessary support from local authorities and agencies, it said, adding that key recovery work, including site documentation and evidence collection, has been completed, and further analysis is now underway. A multi-disciplinary team from AAIB commenced the investigation on June 12, 2025. A combined unit of the Digital Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder was recovered from the crash site on June 13, and another set was found on June 16. This model of aircraft has two black box sets, it said. The release also said that meetings were also held with the senior management of Spice Jet, Indigo and Akasa on June 18 and 19, during which the minister reviewed the fleet performance, safety oversight, passengers experience and convenience, and the airline communication strategy.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule slams Air India's ‘very bad service', condemns flight delay
MP Supriya Sule on Tuesday alleged Air India was providing "very bad service" to its passengers after her flight was purportedly delayed by over three hours. She sought urgent intervention from the Civil Aviation Ministry, urging it to hold the airline accountable for frequent "delays and mismanagement". "Travelling from Delhi to Pune on @airindia flight AI 2971. The flight is delayed by over 3 hours- no clear communication, no updates, no assistance and very bad service. Such delays and mismanagement are becoming a norm with @airindia. "Passengers are left stranded and helpless. This apathy is unacceptable. Urging @RamMNK, @MoCA_GoI to intervene and hold the airline accountable. Travellers deserve better," Sule tweeted.
