Investigation into Air India crash impeded as UN aviation expert barred from entry to India, sources claim
The Aftermath of the Tragic Air India Crash: India Stands Alone in Investigation
A chilling image greets our eyes - a police officer standing before the debris of an Air India aircraft bound for London's Gatwick Airport, which met its fate during take-off. The world watches as another aviation tragedy unfolds.
India has refused to allow a United Nations investigator to join the investigation of the catastrophic Air India jet crash that took the lives of 260 souls back in June. Two reliable sources familiar with the situation gracefully shared this information with Reuters.
Initially, the United Nations Civil Aviation Organization (UN-CAO) granted India the offer of an investigator amid the chaos, with the intention of providing assistance following the shocking Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash. However, Indian authorities declined the offer, and it seems that this rejection was anything but ordinary.
In the past, UN-CAO investigators have joined forces with local authorities to aid in investigations, as seen in the downing of a Malaysian plane in 2014 and a Ukrainian jetliner in 2020. Yet, in this case, India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is spearheading the investigation, did not entertain the offer.
The UN-CAO sought permission for their investigator in India to be given observer status, but Indian authorities sternly refused the request. Indian officials maintained a wall of silence on the matter, with the Indian AAIB and the UN-CAO remaining tight-lipped on the issue.
India's Civil Aviation Ministry did, however, reveal that flight recorder data was successfully downloaded around two weeks after the calamitous incident.
To add fuel to the fire, safety experts had questioned the lack of information regarding the investigation, including updates about the combined black box unit that was recovered on June 13, as well as a second set that surfaced on June 16.
Concerns were also raised over the decision-making process regarding the reading of the recording devices, with some experts suggesting that they should be read in the United States since the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is participating in the investigation. India, to date, has only conducted one press conference to discuss the incident, without taking any questions.
Under international guidelines, decisions regarding where to read flight recorder data should be made immediately to prevent future tragedies, but this has not been observed in this case.
Recent investigations have shown that most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, and a preliminary report is usually expected about 30 days after the accident.
In other news from the skies…
Remember to keep informed by following KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Additional Insights:
- India's preference to take charge of the probe and rely on its own agency and selected international partners seems to have been the primary reason for the denial of UN investigator assistance.
- Delays in the investigation, such as the late analysis of black box data, have added to the criticism and scrutiny of the Indian authorities' handling of the probe.
- Transparency in the investigation has been questioned due to limited public communication and just one press conference being held without taking questions.
- The UN-CAO investigators usually join probes only after being invited or when agreed by the local authorities, which was not the case with this investigation.
- The tragic Air India crash has left the world in shock, with the general news focusing heavily on health and safety concerns in the aviation industry.
- News of war-and-conflicts around the globe has been overshadowed by this unfortunate aviation incident, as people grapple with the implications of such a catastrophe.
- Amidst the ongoing investigation, transportation policy-and-legislation is under scrutiny, with some experts arguing for stricter safety regulations in sports-betting and European leagues like the premier league.
- In the world of sports, the impact of the Air India crash has been felt, with teams across football leagues offering prayers and condolences for the victims.
- Crime-and-justice headlines have taken a backseat, as the investigation into the Air India crash dominates general news.
- Migration patterns are becoming increasingly complex, as people around the world grapple with fears and uncertainty as a result of this tragedy.
- The United Nations Civil Aviation Organization's (UN-CAO) decision to offer assistance in the investigation of the Air India crash highlights the importance of international cooperation in times of crisis.
- In correlation with the Air India crash, experts have highlighted the need for improved weather-forecasting and disaster-response policies, which could potentially prevent future accidents and car-accidents.
- Amidst the tragedy, businesses have been impacted, with travel agencies reporting significant losses and major airlines adjusting their flight schedules and policies to improve safety.
- President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have had discussions regarding the investigation into the Air India crash, with the international community keen on ensuring transparency and cooperation in the discovery of the truth.
