Latest news with #P.K.Mishra
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Global aviation experts join India's probe into AI plane crash
New Delhi: A high-level team of international aviation investigators and Boeing representatives have arrived in Ahmedabad to support India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in examining the June 12 fatal crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The tragic incident claimed 241 lives, including passengers and crew on board. The investigative delegation includes officials from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as confirmed by multiple sources. Their involvement is in accordance with global civil aviation norms, particularly Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which mandates collaboration with the aircraft's country of manufacture and those with significant victim representation. Among the deceased were 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 181 Indian citizens, including 12 crew members. The AAIB initiated a formal inquiry on the day of the crash, dispatching a five-member 'Go Team' led by the Director General. This was later bolstered by forensic analysts, medical experts, and top officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), are also aiding the probe. A major development occurred on June 13 when the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), commonly known as a black box, was recovered. The data is expected to offer critical insights into the aircraft's final minutes. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which captures audio from inside the flight deck, has also been retrieved. Meanwhile, Boeing is coordinating with Indian authorities while deferring to the AAIB, as per international protocol. The US-based manufacturer will be joined by experts from GE Aerospace, the engine supplier for the aircraft, which has cancelled other engagements to prioritise the investigation in India. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Principal Secretary, P.K. Mishra, visited the crash site and the Civil Hospital where victims' mortal remains are being identified. He later chaired a high-level meeting with central and state officials, reviewing relief operations and reiterating the Centre's commitment to supporting the bereaved families. The PMO officials, Tarun Kapoor and Mangesh Ghildiyal, accompanied him. The investigation continued amid growing public scrutiny of Boeing and calls for a thorough examination of the causes behind the deadly crash.
India.com
6 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Global Aviation Experts Join India's Probe Into Ahmedabad Air India Plane Crash
Ahmedabad: A high-level team of international aviation investigators and Boeing representatives has arrived in Ahmedabad to support India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in examining the June 12 fatal crash of an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The tragic incident claimed 241 lives, including passengers and crew on board. The investigative delegation includes officials from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as confirmed by multiple sources. Their involvement is in accordance with global civil aviation norms, particularly Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which mandates collaboration with the aircraft's country of manufacture and those with significant victim representation. Among the deceased were 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese, one Canadian, and 181 Indian citizens, including 12 crew members. The AAIB initiated a formal inquiry on the day of the crash, dispatching a five-member 'Go Team' led by the Director General. This was later bolstered by forensic analysts, medical experts, and top officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), are also aiding the probe. A major development occurred on June 13 when the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), commonly known as a black box, was recovered. The data is expected to offer critical insights into the aircraft's final minutes. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which captures audio from inside the flight deck, has also been retrieved. Meanwhile, Boeing is coordinating with Indian authorities while deferring to the AAIB, as per international protocol. The US-based manufacturer will be joined by experts from GE Aerospace, the engine supplier for the aircraft, which has cancelled other engagements to prioritise the investigation in India. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Principal Secretary, P.K. Mishra, visited the crash site and the Civil Hospital where victims' mortal remains are being identified. He later chaired a high-level meeting with central and state officials, reviewing relief operations and reiterating the Centre's commitment to supporting the bereaved families. The PMO officials, Tarun Kapoor and Mangesh Ghildiyal, accompanied him. The investigation continued amid growing public scrutiny of Boeing and calls for a thorough examination of the causes behind the deadly crash.
Arab Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Arab Times
Cockpit voice recorder recovered in Air India crash; investigation underway
GUJARAT, India, June 16: Officials investigating Sunday's deadly Air India plane crash have confirmed the recovery of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), a key piece of evidence that will aid in determining the cause of the crash that claimed 270 lives, including 241 people on board. Previously, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had announced the retrieval of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR). The confirmation of both black boxes was made to P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the crash site in Ahmedabad and the civil hospital where injured individuals are being treated. Mishra chaired a high-level review meeting at Circuit House, where he discussed ongoing relief, rescue, and investigative measures with senior officials from the central and state governments, the AAIB, and the Airports Authority of India, according to an official release. 'The Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder have been located and secured,' the release stated, noting that both devices are critical for determining the cause of the crash. The AAIB has launched a thorough investigation, while the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also conducting a parallel probe under international protocols, as the aircraft involved is American-made. The crash involved a Boeing 787-8 (AI 171) en route to London, which plummeted shortly after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The plane crashed into the campus of a nearby medical college in the Meghaninagar area, erupting in flames. Of the 242 passengers and crew on board, only one survived. An additional 29 people on the ground, including five MBBS students, also lost their lives. Mishra visited the accident site near B.J. Medical College, Meghani Nagar, where state government and AAIB officials briefed him on the crash sequence and emergency response efforts. During a visit to Ahmedabad's Civil Hospital, Mishra met with grieving families, observed DNA matching procedures, and directed authorities to ensure a smooth and compassionate process. He also spoke with injured victims and instructed hospital staff to prioritize their care and recovery. 'I am deeply saddened by the scale of this tragedy. Everyone is grieving. It is our responsibility to support the victims and share their sorrow,' Mishra said during a press interaction. At the Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar, he reviewed ongoing DNA identification efforts and emphasized the importance of accurate and timely identification of the victims. Mishra reaffirmed Prime Minister Modi's commitment to providing comprehensive support to the victims' families and ensuring a coordinated response from all agencies involved. He was accompanied by PMO officials, including Advisor to the Prime Minister Tarun Kapoor and Deputy Secretary Mangesh Ghildiyal, the release added.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- The Hindu
Air India Ahmedabad plane crash: International agencies reach Ahmedabad to assist in crash probe
Several international investigating agencies have reached Ahmedabad to assist India's apex body for probing air crashes, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), with the inquiry into last week's Air India Boeing 787 crash that killed 241 onboard. Those who have arrived include representatives from the top investigating agency of the U.S. for transport accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB); the civil aviation watchdog of the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and the U.K.'s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), multiple sources said. A team of aerospace manufacturer Boeing is also expected to participate in the investigation. Air India Ahmedabad plane crash LIVE updates Among those who died in the crash were 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian citizen. The remaining 181 were Indians, including 12 crew. Review meeting The Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, P.K. Mishra, visited the crash site and the BJ Medical College where the bodies had been brought to. He discussed the ongoing relief, rescue, and investigation efforts during a high-level review meeting with senior officials from the Central and State governments, the AAIB, and the Airports Authority of India. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to providing all possible support to victims' families and ensuring a coordinated response across all agencies involved. The Principal Secretary was accompanied by Tarun Kapoor, Adviser to the PM, and Mangesh Ghildiyal, Deputy Secretary, PMO. The AAIB retrieved the black box a day after the June 12 crash from the accident site, i.e., the BJ Medical college hostel campus. The next steps involve 'milking' the data from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and digital flight data recorder (DFDR), which together comprise the black box. Milking implies downloading of raw data, which could take up to 25 hours for the DFDR and two hours for the CVR. After this, the data will be analysed to interpret flight parameters such as speed, angle of attack, among others. The two exercises together could take up to four to five days, said a former senior investigator of the AAIB. During the last air crash involving Air India Express aircraft at the Calicut International Airport in August 2020, the black box was sent to the U.S. because the AAIB didn't have its own facility. In April 2025, Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurated a DFDR & CVR Laboratory at the AAIB headquarters in New Delhi. A questionnaire sent to Ministry of Civil Aviation on Sunday seeking details of where this data would be downloaded, among others, remained unanswered. The above quoted former official said the AAIB didn't have a Boeing 787-'type trained' investigator until at least 18 months ago. He felt that such an expertise could only come from Air India, which is the only airline to fly this type of aircraft in the country, but deputing their personnel may imply a conflict of interest. He said that the AAIB may have to look overseas for such expertise. Questions sent to the AAIB DG, Group Captain G.V.G. Yugandhar, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation on onboarding 'type-trained' investigators too remained unanswered. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is an office attached to Ministry of Civil Aviation. It investigates accidents and serious incidents involving aircraft weighing more than 2,250 kg. According to standards laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the UN aviation safety watchdog, the state probing an accident or incident is expected to produce a preliminary report within 30 days. 'A publicly available final report is encouraged to be produced by the state in charge of the investigation within 12 months of the accident, says Annex 13 of the ICAO's Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), which provides standards for accident investigations. As per Annex 13, the state of occurrence is responsible for the investigation and controls the release of all information regarding the probe. The NTSB had earlier said in a press statement on X that as per international protocols under the ICAO, all information on the investigation will be provided by the Government of India. The FAA had said that 'in the event assistance is requested, the NTSB is the official U.S. representative and the FAA provides technical support'. The NTSB participates in the investigation of aviation accidents and serious incidents outside the U.S. in accordance with the Chicago Convention of the ICAO. The government has also constituted a separate committee under the Chairmanship of the Home Secretary, which will recommend standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent air accidents, as well as guidelines for emergency response involving multiple stakeholders.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
PM Modi's Principal Secy meets families of plane crash victims; calls for expediting identification process
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Principal Secretary Dr PK Mishra met the families of plane crash victims at the city's Civil hospital on Sunday and directed the authorities to speed up the DNA samples-led victim identification process, to enable families in overcoming their grief at the earliest. Many families of the deceased victims in Ahmedabad plane crash have gathered at the city hospital to gather the remains of their loved ones, however, the delay in identification of bodies via DNA testing has added to their woes. Three days after the plane crash, only 44 DNA matching have been done, so far. A total of 241 passengers onboard the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had perished in the catastrophic plane crash on June 12. The Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Dr. P.K. Mishra visited the plane crash site on Sunday to assess the situation. His visit reinforced PM Modi's directive to ensure swift relief, a thorough investigation, and comprehensive support for victims and their families. He also reviewed the accident site near B.J. Medical College, Meghani Nagar, where senior officials from the Gujarat government, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and Airports Authority of India briefed him on the sequence of events and immediate response measures. At the Civil Hospital, P.K. Mishra met bereaved families, observed DNA sample matching, and directed authorities to provide full assistance in seamless and compassionate manner. He also interacted with injured victims, instructing hospital officials to prioritise their medical treatment and recovery. At the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar, Dr. Mishra reviewed DNA sampling efforts and stressed the need to complete identification swiftly while maintaining scientific accuracy. He also chaired a high-level review meeting at the Circuit house, reiterating PM Modi's commitment to providing all possible support to victims' families and ensuring a coordinated response across all agencies involved.
