ICAO request to join Air India crash investigation under consideration, probe on as per global standards, say sources

Air India crash Ahmedabad, ICAO request to join Air India probe, ICAO observer status India, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AAIB, In its request to the government, ICAO is learnt to have suggested that its presence in the probe will help ensure that international standards. The International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) unusual request of joining the investigation into the June 12 crash of Air India’s Boeing 787-8 aircraft in Ahmedabad is being considered by the government, according to senior government officials. Any decision on the matter will be taken keeping in view the procedures and protocols followed for air accident investigations and the needs of this specific probe, they said.

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The United Nations’ aviation body has requested the government to give ‘observer status’ to an ICAO investigator in the probe that is being led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). There has been speculation that the government has rejected ICAO’s offer. Sources, however, indicated that the proposal is under consideration. ICAO usually joins aircraft accident investigations in very specific circumstances, mostly when the accident occurs in a conflict zone or the plane is brought down by military action. Officials said that ICAO’s request to join the Ahmedabad crash probe is highly unusual.