Now, Post-mortem the Accident

The crash of Air India Flight 171 underlines the importance of investigation, implementing its recommendations and holding the Air India management responsible

- Mark D. Martin

SHORTLY after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, Air India Flight 171 crashed in the neighbouring area, killing more than 240 passengers in possibly the most tragic and shocking air disaster in 40 years. There’s a very good reason why the investigation into the cause of this crash is now a multinational global enquiry—with active oversight from the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (UKCAA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Transport Canada, in addition to Boeing, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

The Minister of Civil Aviation has said that the investigation into the crash should be closed in three months or 90 days, which is an extremely naive and premature statement to make. In truth, it must be the multinational team of investigators who should set the deadline since this crash will be a complex exercise. Every element of the technical systems must be reviewed and the investigation must establish what led both the engines to fail. Investigating the cause of the crash isn't about being an endurance test or about setting any world record, it is about getting to know why the crash happened. The recommendations of the probe must put in place immediate procedures or systems, and if required, change or replace the entire aircraft components so that such a catastrophic crash never happens again.

This is the first-ever controlled flight air disaster involving the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft—now operated by Air India, owned by the Tatas, with Singapore Airlines having a 25.1 per cent stake in the airline.