Lok Sabha Question No. 905 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Technical Lapse in Aircraft
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Smt. Sajda Ahmed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION Lok Sabha

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 905

( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  24th July 2025 )

## TECHNICAL LAPSE IN AIRCRAFT

905.    SMT SAJDA AHMED

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  identified  the  specific  technical lapse that led to the recent Air India flight crash in Ahmedabad;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the name of the aircraft model involved and its maintenance status prior to the incident;
- (c)  the  immediate  steps  taken  by  the  Government/the  Directorate General  of  Civil  Aviation  (DGCA)  to  ensure  passenger  safety  and accountability of the airline; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government has announced any compensation for the victims and ordered a nationwide technical audit of aircraft and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

CIVIL  AVIATION

(a) to (d): An investigation has been ordered by the 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 accident of Air India flight AI-171 at Ahmedabad on 12.06.2025. The aircraft involved in the accident was Boeing B787-8 Dreamliner with registration no. VT-ANB.;

A preliminary report on the accident has been published by AAIB on 12.07.2025 and is available on their website www.aaib.gov.in. The investigation is in progress.; ; The aircraft bearing registration VT-ANB underwent routine maintenance and safety inspections as per the approved maintenance program in compliance with DGCA regulations and the manufacturer's guidelines. ; 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.; ; Further,  DGCA  has  issued  General  Safety  Circular  01/2025  on  19 June 2025, which deals with comprehensive special audit to assess aviation ecosystem and strengthen aviation safety architecture.; ; 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. ;

; 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.;

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