Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Monday made his first address to the Lok Sabha in connection with the fatal Air India 171 crash in Ahmedabad, vowing that the investigation is being undertaken in a transparent and unbiased fashion.
The plane crashed just minutes after takeoff on June 12, taking the lives of 241 persons on board, with only one passenger surviving the horrific tragedy.
Addressing the House, Naidu assured that the investigation is being conducted under the leadership of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and subject-matter specialists. While initial facts have been reported, the final report is in progress.
This comes after early findings by the AAIB that have hinted at a possible "suicide theory" of the pilots of the flight — an accusation that has invited public outrage and protests.
"These are preliminary observations. Let us wait for the final report. AAIB is a strict, rule-based process. The investigation is objective and all details are being examined. We have to maintain the truth without compromising on the investigation process," Naidu exhorted.
The Minister also mentioned a landmark: for the first time, India has cracked the black box nationally. Earlier, the data was routed overseas, usually to the country where Boeing manufactured it, for analysis.
This is a moment of pride for our aviation capabilities. AAIB has worked commendably in cracking the black box here in India," Naidu stated in a veiled dig at some sections of Western media for "speculative" coverage of the crash.
The AI 171 disaster has resonated globally, with the fact that a number of foreign nationals were among the victims. Naidu reaffirmed the government's determination to see that the investigation into one of India's worst aviation accidents is thorough and credible.
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