New Delhi [India], July 7: A crucial meeting of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is set for Tuesday, with top officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) expected to appear. The deadly crash of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad and broader aviation safety concerns are likely to dominate discussions, sources told.
Civil Aviation Secretary and senior DGCA representatives have been summoned. While the primary agenda revolves around the regulation of passenger fees, airline charges, and airport tariffs, the recent tragedy has thrust aviation safety into sharp focus.
On June 12, 2025, Air India’s London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft struck a hostel complex at BJ Medical College, killing 241 of the 242 people onboard, including former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
In the aftermath, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has supported a comprehensive probe led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is conducting its inquiry with cutting-edge technology from its lab in New Delhi.
Officials confirmed the successful recovery of the aircraft’s black boxes, with data downloaded by June 25. An identical ‘golden chassis’ black box was used to ensure data integrity during retrieval, sources told.
The investigation team includes experts from the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), along with Boeing and GE representatives, aviation medicine specialists, and air traffic control professionals. The probe is being conducted under international ICAO Annex 13 standards and India’s Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017.
Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Rakesh Joshi confirmed that the bodies of all 260 victims, including 19 non-passengers, have been identified and handed over to families. “A total of 254 DNA matches were done; six were identified through facial recognition,” he said.
Officials noted the AI-171 crash marks the first time India has domestically decoded black box data, calling it a “major milestone” in India’s aviation safety infrastructure.
The PAC meeting is expected to examine both the factors behind the crash and systemic issues around safety oversight and airport fee regulation as India’s aviation sector continues its rapid growth.