After Ahmedabad Air India Crash, Centre Forms High-Level Committee Led by Home Secretary

News Flash

14 June

Committee to Formulate SOPs for Preventing Aviation Disasters; MoCA Sets 3-Month Deadline to Submit Report

New Delhi: In the wake of one of India’s deadliest aviation tragedies, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has formed a high-level, multi-disciplinary committee, chaired by the Union Home Secretary, to ensure such catastrophic incidents never occur again.

On June 12, Air India Flight AI-171, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, including former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani and over a dozen crew members.

“This committee is not a substitute for the ongoing technical and criminal investigations but a dedicated framework-building body to develop robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent and manage similar aviation tragedies,” the MoCA said in an official statement.

Committee's Scope and Objectives

The committee, comprised of top-ranking bureaucrats and aviation safety experts, will:

• Analyse the root cause of the Ahmedabad crash

• Examine mechanical faults, human error, weather, and regulatory compliance

• Conduct on-site inspections, evaluate flight data and cockpit voice recorders

• Interview crew, ATC officials, and emergency responders

• Evaluate and improve inter-agency coordination and rescue operations

“The SOPs will integrate best international practices, improve stakeholder coordination, and define clear roles for every agency during post-crash response,” the Ministry emphasised.

Key Members of the Committee

The committee will include representatives from:

• Union Ministry of Home Affairs (Chairman)

• Ministry of Civil Aviation

• Gujarat Home Department & Disaster Response Authority

• Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

• Indian Air Force (Inspection & Safety Division)

• Bureau of Civil Aviation Security

• Special Director, Intelligence Bureau

• Directorate of Forensic Science Services

• Legal advisors, accident investigation experts, and international consultants, if required

Timeline and Expected Outcomes

The ministry has given the committee three months to:

• Submit a detailed SOP with procedural reforms

• Recommend policy changes, training programs, and emergency protocols

• Provide a blueprint for nationwide disaster preparedness in civil aviation

“This is a decisive moment. We must learn from this tragedy to build a safer future for Indian skies,” an MoCA official said under anonymity.