Ahmedabad plane crash: Sabotage factor not ruled out, says civil aviation minister

Ahmedabad: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating “from all angles, including sabotage” last month’s tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad that claimed 274 lives both on board and on the ground, Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said on Saturday.

Speaking at the Pune chapter of the Emerging Business Conclave in conversation with NDTV’s Jitendra Dixit, Mr Mohol confirmed that the black box recovered from the wreckage of flight AI 171 is currently in the AAIB’s custody and will not be sent abroad for analysis.

“It (plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investigation into it... CCTV footage is being reviewed, and all angles, including sabotage, are being probed. Several agencies are working on it,” the minister said.

On June 12, Air India’s London-bound Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 crashed seconds after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport around 1:30 pm. Of the 242 passengers and crew members on board, only one survived. The aircraft crashed into the residential quarters of BJ Medical College doctors in Meghaninagar, killing nine students and their relatives on the ground and engulfing the area in flames and thick smoke.

The Air Traffic Control confirmed that the pilot had issued a 'Mayday' distress call, signalling a full emergency, moments before the crash.

Describing it as a “rare case,” Mr Mohol noted: “It has never happened that both engines have shut down together,” echoing speculation by aviation experts that a dual engine failure may have caused the tragedy.

The minister said the ongoing probe, expected to conclude within three months, would establish whether the failure was due to an engine defect, a fuel supply issue, or something else. The black box, which includes the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), is expected to provide crucial evidence.

“Whatever it is, it will come out. It is too early to say anything now,” Mr Mohol added. Amid concerns that the black box would be sent overseas for analysis, Mr Mohol firmly stated, “It will not go anywhere. It is in AAIB's custody, and there is no need to send it outside. We will do the entire investigation here.”

The minister acknowledged that the crash had briefly shaken public confidence in air travel. “But let me tell you... All 33 Dreamliners have been inspected on the orders of the DGCA. Everything was found safe. That is why I said it was a rare accident. People are no longer scared and travelling comfortably,” he assured.

Addressing other civil aviation issues, Mr Mohol said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) would soon address 419 technical vacancies and reiterated that private airlines could not appoint staff without DGCA approval.

He also encouraged pilots facing overwork or harassment by private airlines to directly approach the Civil Aviation Ministry.

On making air travel and airport food cheaper, the minister highlighted the rollout of “Udaan Yatri Cafes” at select airports, offering tea and snacks at affordable prices. “These will gradually expand,” he said.

As the nation awaits the AAIB’s final report, Mr Mohol’s remarks underline the government’s commitment to transparency and a thorough probe into one of India’s worst aviation disasters in recent years.