Air safety in focus as key panel meets today

Waiting for AI-I71 crash probe report: Officials

- Saubhadra Chatterji and Neha LM Tripathi

Aviation ministry and Air India officials told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday they are “eagerly waiting” for the preliminary investigation report into the June 12 crash that killed 260 people.

The Public Accounts Committee session, originally scheduled to discuss infrastructure fees and tariffs, instead became the first parliamentary meeting to address the Air India Flight 171 tragedy and broader aviation safety concerns.

The discussion came just days ahead of Friday's 30-day deadline for the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to report its preliminary findings into the crash of Flight 171, the cause of which is yet to be determined.

Several MPs highlighted multiple air safety incidents that have occurred since the Ahmedabad crash, with one Opposition member demanding a special audit of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the ministry's security wing responsible for safety standards at airports nationwide, people aware of the matter said.

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal confirmed air safety dominated the proceedings, with lawmakers including former aviation minister Praful Patel, BJP’s Ravishankar Prasad, and Congress's Shaktisinh Gohil pressing officials on investigation progress and systemic safety measures.

Air India officials defended their Boeing 787 fleet, telling the committee the aircraft “has been and is considered one of the safest aircraft in the world,” noting that 1,100 such planes are currently in service globally.