, which was en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport on June 12 and claimed the lives of 241 out of the 242 people on board.“A High Level Multi-disciplinary Committee is constituted for examining the causes leading to the crash of the Air India Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to Gatwick Airport (London) on June 12, 2025. The Committee will examine the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and guidelines issued to prevent and handle such occurrences and suggest comprehensive guidelines for dealing with such instances in the future,” read an order issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The ministry clarified that this committee would not replace other ongoing inquiries being conducted by relevant agencies but would instead focus on drafting improved SOPs to both prevent and manage such accidents in future.
The committee, headed by the Union Home Secretary, will include representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Indian Air Force, and aviation experts. It will have access to all key records — including flight data, cockpit voice recordings, aircraft maintenance logs, ATC logs, and witness testimonies — and is expected to submit its report within three months.
In addition to identifying the root cause of the crash, the committee will evaluate the emergency response mechanisms of central and state authorities, rescue operations, and inter-agency coordination. It will also recommend policy reforms, operational upgrades, and training measures aimed at improving both crash prevention and post-crash handling.
The order, issued around 12:40 am on Saturday, noted that the committee will review records of previous crashes in India and evaluate current guidelines for managing such emergencies.“The Committee will examine existing guidelines regarding handling such incidents and go through records of previous such aircraft crashes in the country,” it stated.It will also suggest roles and responsibilities for all involved agencies—both central and state—for effective post-crash management. The SOPs it drafts will align with international best practices, the ministry said.
Members of the panel include the Union Home Secretary, secretary or joint secretary of the home affairs ministry, secretary of civil aviation, representatives from Gujarat’s home department and the state disaster response authority, Ahmedabad’s police commissioner, the DG of Inspection and Safety at the Indian Air Force, DGs of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, a special director from the Intelligence Bureau, and the director of the Directorate of Forensic Science Services.
The committee may also rope in additional members as needed, including aviation experts, legal advisors, and accident investigators.
It will conduct site visits and interview key individuals including crew members, Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs), and others directly involved. If foreign nationals or international aircraft manufacturers are part of the investigation, the committee will coordinate with international bodies.
Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Tata-owned Air India, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport on Thursday. Only one of the 242 passengers and crew members on board survived.
Air India has set up dedicated hotlines to assist families: 1800 5691 444 for calls within India, and +91 8062779200 for those outside the country.
The Tata Group has announced a compensation of ₹1 crore for the family of each deceased passenger.
With inputs from ANI
