New Delhi, June 14 (HS): Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the recent Air India aircraft crash in Ahmedabad. The committee consists of key officials, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Director General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and is tasked with delivering a report within three months. Addressing a press conference, Naidu emphasized the nation's stringent safety standards, highlighting a need for thorough monitoring of the Boeing 787 series, of which India has 34 aircraft. He mentioned that eight of these have already been inspected and that immediate inspections are planned for the remaining fleet.

DNA testing is being conducted on the victims to facilitate identification and the return of bodies to their families. Minister Naidu assured that efforts would be made to enhance the existing security protocols. He noted that the 'black box' recovery, conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), is expected to yield valuable insights regarding the moments preceding the crash. The black box was found near the crash site around 5 PM, and its data is anticipated to clarify the circumstances surrounding the accident.

According to Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Samir Kumar Sinha, the aircraft took off at 1:39 PM but lost altitude after reaching around 650 feet. The pilot declared a full emergency at the same time, but the aircraft crashed shortly after, approximately two kilometers from the airport. The aircraft had earlier completed successful flights from Paris to Delhi and Delhi to Ahmedabad without incident. Following the crash, the airport was temporarily closed, reopening around 5 PM after protocols were fulfilled. The pilot, Captain Sumit Sabharwal, and First Officer Clive Kunder were experienced, with a combined flight history of over 9,300 hours. The crash resulted in the loss of 270 lives, with bodies being transported to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar