Committee to probe Air India AI171 crash, report due in 3 months, says Aviation ministry

A high-level multi-disciplinary committee has been formed by the civil aviation ministry to investigate the Air India AI171 crash that claimed 241 lives in Ahmedabad. The committee will be headed by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and is expected to submit its report within three months.

The committee’s mandate includes assessing the causes behind the crash—whether mechanical, human error, weather-related, or regulatory failures—and examining India’s current aviation safety protocols. The panel will also study the emergency response by central and state agencies, and suggest comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Officials confirmed that the committee will review flight data, cockpit voice recordings, ATC logs, maintenance records, and conduct interviews with crew, ATC staff, and witnesses. The report will not interfere with ongoing investigations by aviation regulators but will focus on long-term policy and operational improvements.

The ministry said the panel will draw upon international best practices, recommend safety upgrades, and formulate an SOP involving every relevant stakeholder—from airlines to disaster response teams—to strengthen post-crash coordination and accountability.