Air India crash probe progressing, report to be out soon: Civil Aviation Minister

Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Monday informed the Rajya Sabha that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is making significant progress in probing the fatal Air India AI171 crash that occurred in June last year. “The investigation is going at a very good pace, and the report should be out very soon,” Naidu said during the Question Hour.

The Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI171 enroute to London-Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025 , killing 260 people , including 241 onboard . The minister assured that all necessary resources are being provided to the AAIB for completing the probe.

Responding to queries about flight safety amid the ongoing West Asia conflict , Naidu said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been actively coordinating with airlines, issuing circulars, and holding multiple meetings to ensure flights operate only when 100% safety can be guaranteed. Travel advisories have also been issued to passengers. “Around 90,000 people were brought back to India last week alone, and we expect the situation to improve in the coming days,” he added.

On long-term aviation infrastructure, Naidu said India aims to expand its civil aviation network significantly. “In the next 5 years, 50 more airports will be operational, and over 200 new airports are expected in the next 20 years, taking the total to 350 ,” he said. Plans are also underway to start seaplane operations and boost helicopter services.

Highlighting aviation safety, the minister said the DGCA follows a multi-tier, rigorous process aligned with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards , now strengthened with digital tracking systems. “Through the ‘track by tail’ programme, every aircraft is digitally monitored to ensure timely compliance, while inspections are double-verified at central headquarters,” he explained.

Naidu emphasized that civil aviation is a priority sector for India’s growth, noting that India remains the fastest-growing aviation market in the Asia Pacific, with daily domestic and international passenger traffic of 5 lakh and 1–2 lakh , respectively.