The investigation into the Air India AI-171 crash has reached its final stages and the report is expected to be completed soon, Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu said in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Naidu made the statement while speaking to the media after inaugurating hub-and-spoke operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. He said the investigation is being carried out according to international aviation protocols and is being handled with “great sensitivity”.
Investigation Follows International Protocol
Naidu said aviation accidents are investigated through a defined procedure under the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
He said the government is following that established process while examining the AI-171 crash.
According to the minister, the investigation is not simply about classifying the incident as an accident. The focus, he said, is on understanding what happened, why it happened and how it happened.
The report is now in its final stages and is expected to be completed soon.
Government Considers Testing Every Pilot
Alongside the investigation, the government is also examining a proposal to strengthen pilot testing requirements.
At present, mandatory testing covers 10% of pilots. The government is considering increasing this to 100%.
Naidu said passengers should have confidence that there is no compromise on aviation safety. The government’s view, he said, is that every pilot should undergo testing at least once a year.
The proposal is currently being discussed with stakeholders. A new civil aviation regulation on the issue is expected to be introduced soon.
FAA Assessment Scheduled for November
The minister also spoke about the upcoming assessment by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The assessment is scheduled for November, and Naidu said the government is fully prepared to meet all the requirements.
He said preparations are being made ahead of the assessment to ensure that the necessary requirements are fulfilled.
11 New Airports Identified
Naidu also said the process of selecting new airports is moving quickly.
According to him, 11 airports have been identified for inclusion in the programme.
The minister’s comments come as the government works on aviation safety measures and prepares for the upcoming FAA assessment.
For the AI-171 investigation, the immediate focus remains on completing the final report and establishing a clear understanding of what happened, why it happened and how it happened.
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