Ahmedabad air crash probe: AAIB must allay doubts
US-based Foundation for Aviation Safety (FAS) has alleged that the investigation bureau ignored key evidence
DAYS after the Union government informed Parliament that the probe report of the Ahmedabad Air India crash would be out “very soon”, the country’s Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has itself come under scrutiny. The US-based Foundation for Aviation Safety (FAS) has alleged that the bureau ignored key evidence pertaining to the June 2025 crash which claimed 260 lives in one of India’s biggest air disasters. The global aviation industry and the victims’ families deserve an investigation that is not only thorough but also transparent. The perception of opacity raises doubts that must be addressed urgently.
The FAS, a premier non-profit organisation that monitors the aviation industry as well as government regulators, has claimed that it possesses documentary proof suggesting a troubling pattern of electrical and electronic failure in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft that was involved in the crash. This reportedly includes incidents of burnt wires and repeated replacement of a major power distribution component. If authentic, such evidence could potentially point toward systemic aircraft issues rather than human error. The foundation has alleged that its repeated offers to share this sensitive information with the investigators have received no response.
These accusations are serious because any air mishap probe must consider every credible lead. International aviation safety norms stress openness, cooperation and the free exchange of safety-related data. Ignoring or delaying the review of relevant evidence risks undermining the credibility of the probe. The foundation has argued that by failing to acknowledge these technical concerns, the preliminary report has indirectly reinforced speculation that the pilots were responsible for the disaster. It’s worrisome for India, whose civil aviation sector is expanding rapidly, that premature assumptions and conclusions are gaining traction. The final probe report must not only be comprehensive but also beyond reproach.
