Following the tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London, India has begun a formal investigation to uncover what led to the devastating accident. The flight, which departed from Ahmedabad, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing at least 260 people, including 19 on the ground.
India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, confirmed in a statement on Thursday that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has been tasked with leading the probe. He noted that the inquiry will follow international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Rescue and recovery crews were on site through the night, working amid the debris to find the flight’s black box recorders. These devices are expected to give investigators critical data on the aircraft’s final minutes in the air.
According to Air India, the flight was carrying 241 people on board. Among them were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven from Portugal, and one Canadian. The crew included two pilots and ten cabin staff. Authorities have reported that one passenger survived, although their condition remains unclear.
Local police have confirmed that 260 fatalities have been recorded so far. That includes both passengers and individuals who were on the ground when the aircraft came down.
Support has started to arrive from international partners. The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch has offered assistance to Indian officials, while investigators from the US National Transportation Safety Board will also be involved in the on-site analysis.
Boeing, the US-based manufacturer of the Dreamliner, has responded to the incident, saying it is in contact with Air India and is “working to gather more information.”
In addition, the Indian government announced the formation of a special expert committee to examine the broader implications of the crash. Kinjarapu noted that the goal is to enhance aviation safety and avoid similar tragedies in the future.
