"India Needs Sincere Aircraft Accident Investigation"

16 Jun 2025 GS 2 Governance
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Key Issues in India’s Aviation Safety System

  1. Lack of Independence in AAIB

    • The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) operates under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), creating a conflict of interest since MoCA also regulates airlines and appoints DGCA officials.

    • Unlike railways (where investigations are independent), aviation probes remain under MoCA’s control.

  2. Reactive, Not Preventive, Safety Culture

    • Recent accidents (Ahmedabad crash, helicopter crashes, ground handling lapses) suggest systemic failures.

    • India’s National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) needs a safety-first overhaul to match its rapid aviation growth.

  3. Suppressed Truths & Contradictory Reports

    • The 1997 Seth Committee Report exposed systemic flaws (regulatory capture, lack of training) but was buried.

    • Past reports (e.g., 2001 crash blaming "cloud entry" despite clear skies, Aurangabad 1993 overloading case) show deliberate obfuscation.

    • Pilot error is often the convenient conclusion, shielding airlines, ATC, and maintenance providers.

  4. Misuse of AAIB Findings

    • AAIB reports are meant for safety learning, but police/judiciary treat them as legal verdicts, distorting accountability.

    • Rule 19(3) of Aircraft Rules, 1937, unfairly penalizes pilots without considering systemic failures.

  5. Lack of Accountability & Transparency

    • Despite 21 deaths in the 2020 Kozhikode crash, safety recommendations remain unimplemented.

    • ICAO’s "zero fatal accidents" claim ignores reality due to doctored reporting.

Solutions Proposed

  1. Make AAIB & DGCA truly independent (report to Parliament, not MoCA).

  2. Stop parallel committees that undermine AAIB’s authority.

  3. Legally bar AAIB findings from criminal trials unless independently verified.

  4. Reform Rule 19(3) to protect pilots unless gross negligence is proven.

  5. Appoint an independent ombudsman to audit past mishandled investigations.

India has the expertise but lacks the institutional courage for transparent investigations. The system prioritizes image over truth, failing victims and aviation safety. Honest reforms—not cover-ups—must become India’s legacy.


SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/india-needs-a-sincere-aircraft-accidentinvestigation/article69698413.ece#:~:text=On%20paper%2C%20India's%20Aircraft%20Accident,statutory%20and%20autonomous%20investigative%20body. 



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