Lok Sabha Question No. 760 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Investigation into the Ahmedabad Air Crash
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION Lok Sabha

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 760

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  24th July 2025 )

## INVESTIGATION INTO THE AHMEDABAD AIR CRASH

760.    SHRI MANISH TEWARI Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Aircraft  Accident  Investigation  Bureau  (AAIB)  has appointed a Lead Investigator for the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the delay in appointing a Lead Investigator contravenes the  protocols  laid  down  under  Annex  13  of  the  International  Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and if so, the details thereof along with the steps being taken by the Government to ensure compliance and restore international credibility;
- (c) whether any safety audits of domestic airlines were undertaken, especially  post-privatisation  of  Air  India,  if  so,  the  details  thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)  the  details  of  compensation  announced  for  the  victims  of  the plane crash including both passengers and the medical residents of the affected building; and
- (e) whether the Government is considering to suggest for constituting  a  Joint  Parliamentary  Committee  (JPC)  to  examine regulatory  failures  and  safety  standards  in  view  of  the  increasing number of aviation-related incidents and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL  AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a): An Investigation has been ordered by Director General, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under Rule 11 of the Aircraft (Investigation  of  Accidents  &  Incidents)  Rules,  2017  to  determine the probable cause(s)/contributory factor(s) leading to the accident of Air India flight AI-171 at Ahmedabad on 12.06.2025.; ; (b): AAIB  had  ordered  an  investigation immediately  after the accident took place. AAIB follows the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) as outlined in International Civil Aviation Organisation  (ICAO)  Annex  13  on  "Aircraft  Accident  and  Incident Investigation"  and  the  same  is  being  followed  for  AI-171  crash investigation.; ; (c):  Post  privatisation,  02  regulatory  audits  of  M/s  Air  India  were carried  out  during  the  year  2023  and  2025.  Directorate  General  of Civil  Aviation  (DGCA)  has  a  structured  surveillance  and  audit framework  in  place  i.e.  planned  and  unplanned  surveillance  of organization  /aircraft,  which  includes  regular  and  periodic  audits, spot  checks,  night  surveillance  and  ramp  inspections  across  all operators, including continuous oversight of maintenance practices. In case there is a violation, DGCA takes enforcement action as per its Enforcement Policy and Procedure Manual.; ; (d):  India  has  ratified  the  Montreal  Convention,  1999  by  making amendments to the Carriage by Air Act, 1972 in 2009 which interalia  provides the liabilities of carriers for compensation in case of death,  delay,  damage  or  loss  to  persons,  baggage  or  cargo  for international carriage.; ; Air India has informed that it has released an interim compensation of Rs. 25 Lakhs to the Next of Kin (NoK) of 128 deceased persons as on 18.07.2025. For the remaining deceased, the payment of interim compensation is in various stages of document submission by the NoK. The process for the final compensation will be initiated after the completion of disbursement of interim compensation.; ; Air  India  has  also  informed  that  the  registration  of  the  requisite Trust  by  TATA  Sons  has  been  completed  on  18.07.2025  and  the airline  is  in  the  process  of  initiating  the  requisite  documentation and  verification  formalities  to  enable  the  disbursement  of  the voluntary ex gratia payment of Rs. 1 crore each to the Next of Kin (NoK)  of  deceased.  Further,  Air  India  is  assisting  families  of  the deceased and injured in various ways such as travel arrangements, accommodation,  medical  expenses,  immediate  cash  payments  to daily wage earners who are injured etc.; ; (e): No such proposal is under consideration.

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