Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol has confirmed that sabotage is among the possibilities being investigated in the Air India flight AI 171 crash, which claimed 274 lives earlier this month. Speaking at the Pune chapter of the Emerging Business Conclave, the minister stated that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is conducting a full-scale probe into the incident, considering every potential cause.
The Air India Dreamliner Boeing 787-8, bound for London, crashed on June 12 shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The aircraft lost altitude and crashed into the staff housing complex of BJ Medical College, triggering a massive fire. Only one person from the 242 passengers and crew survived. Nine individuals on the ground also lost their lives.
“The AAIB is examining all angles, including possible sabotage. The CCTV footage is being scrutinized, and multiple agencies are involved in the process,” said Mr Mohol during his conversation with NDTV. He emphasized the need for a thorough and independent investigation, calling the crash an extremely rare occurrence.
Mr Mohol addressed concerns over the handling of the aircraft’s black box, confirming it remains securely in AAIB custody and will not be sent abroad for analysis. The black box, which includes both the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), is critical to understanding what went wrong during the final moments of the flight.
According to officials, the pilot had issued a Mayday distress signal moments after takeoff, indicating a full-scale emergency. There is growing speculation that a dual engine failure may have caused the crash, a scenario aviation experts consider exceptionally rare.
“The investigation will reveal whether it was due to an engine issue, a fuel problem, or something else. It is premature to make conclusions, but the CVR will offer clarity,” the minister said, adding that the final investigation report is expected within three months.
Responding to safety concerns among passengers following the crash, Mr Mohol assured that all 33 Dreamliner aircraft in Air India’s fleet have undergone thorough inspections on orders from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), with no issues detected.
In addition to addressing the crash, Mr Mohol also discussed broader aviation issues, including over 400 technical vacancies in the DGCA, concerns around pilot working hours, and the need to make air travel more affordable. He noted that the ministry is expanding low-cost food options at airports through Udaan Yatri Cafes, offering essentials like tea and snacks at affordable prices.
The tragic crash has intensified calls for stronger aviation oversight and greater transparency in accident investigations, as authorities work to determine the true cause behind one of India’s deadliest air disasters.
